Owls are mysterious birds of prey that are known for their large eyes and ability to turn their heads almost completely around. They come in many different species, each with unique features and vocalizations. When it comes to a distinctive owl cry, one species stands out from the rest: the barred owl.
The barred owl, with the scientific name Strix varia, is a medium-sized owl native to North America. It gets its name from the horizontal brown and white stripes or “bars” on its chest feathers. Barred owls have large, round heads without ear tufts and dark brown eyes. Their wingspan reaches up to 4 feet across and they can grow to about 2 feet long.
Barred owls inhabit large forests across the United States and Canada. They nest in the cavities of old trees and feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. As a nocturnal species, they are most active at night when they use their incredible hearing to locate prey in the dark.
Out of all the owl species found in North America, the barred owl is most well-known for its distinctive vocalizations. The barred owl’s trademark call is often described as sounding like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” This series of eight hoots in a rhythm of “hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo” is unmistakable in the forest.
Barred Owl Call Description
The barred owl has a wide repertoire of vocalizations it uses to communicate. Here is a closer look at its various calls:
Territorial Call
The barred owl’s territorial call of “Who cooks for you?” is most often heard during nesting season when they are claiming territory and searching for mates. Both male and female barred owls use this distinctive call that carries through the forest. It includes about 8-10 vocal hoots that get progressively louder.
Alarm Call
When threatened by predators or alarmed, barred owls produce a high-pitched, raspy screech that sounds like “cak-cak-cak.” This mobbing call is used to scare off potential predators that get too close to the owl’s nest.
Begging Call
Young owlets in the nest make loud, raspy hissing or screeching sounds to beg for food from the parent owls. These begging calls tend to get louder and more intense as the owlets get hungrier!
Contact Call
Barred owls also use soft calls described as “hoo-uh, hoo-uh” to stay in contact with their mate or offspring and convey their location. This helps the owls keep track of each other in dense woods.
Duetting
A unique feature of barred owls is their ability to vocalize together with their mate in a duet. The male and female will call back and forth to each other using a mix of hoots, cackles, gurgles, and caws. These complex duets help the pair coordinate their territory defense.
Purpose of the Call
So why do barred owls put so much effort into their boisterous calling? Their varied vocalizations serve several important purposes:
Attracting a Mate
Barred owls need to find a mate during breeding season to reproduce. The male’s repetitive hooting helps attract potential female mates to his territory. Once paired, the duetting helps strengthen the bond between the mates.
Territorial Defense
The loud hoots also warn other barred owls to stay away from their territory and resources. Barred owls are very defensive of the area surrounding their nest site. Their calls let intruders know the territory is occupied.
Staying in Contact
Barred owl families need to stay in touch when hunting or watching over their young. Their contact calls help the owls keep track of each other in dense forest vegetation. The parents also listen for begging calls from their owlets.
Predator Defense
When owls feel threatened, their alarm calls signal danger to their mate and offspring. The cackling mobbing call is specifically used to scare away predators like hawks, foxes, or raccoons.
Identification Tips
Telling apart the many owl hoots can be tricky for bird enthusiasts. Here are some key identification tips for the barred owl’s signature call:
– Number of hoots – Listen for the “Who cooks for you?” call to have 8-10 rhythmic hoots.
– Cadence – The call has a distinct cadence with the first and second syllables accented “WHO-cooks.”
– Baritone hoots – The barred owl’s hoots are low-pitched and baritone sounding.
– Volume – The hoots start quiet but become louder and more intense.
– Repeatability – Barred owls can repeat their call over and over for long periods.
– Timber – The bouncy, timber quality gives the call a laughing or musical quality.
Range of the Barred Owl Call
The barred owl’s habitat ranges across much of the eastern half of North America. Their vocalizations carry through forests over great distances. Here are some details on the geographic range of the “Who cooks for you?” call:
Continental Range
Barred owls are native to the eastern United States and much of southeastern Canada. Their range stretches from the Pacific Northwest to the Atlantic Coast. They can be found anywhere from British Columbia to Quebec and south to Texas and Florida.
Ideal Habitat
Mature deciduous or mixed forests with dense trees and wetland areas provide ideal barred owl habitat. They nest in tree cavities and forage in wooded areas near streams, swamps, or ponds.
Travel Distance
The barred owl’s calls can resonate through the forest up to half a mile away! The hoots carry well and help barred owls communicate with mates and defend territories spanning hundreds of acres.
Seasonality
In the U.S, the loud hooting is most common during late fall through late winter during mating season. But barred owls can vocalize year-round to maintain their territories.
Regional Differences
Although the overall call is similar, there are actually subtle regional dialects between barred owl populations in the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast. Their vocalizations vary slightly between geographic locations.
Similar Sounding Owls
While the barred owl has a very distinctive call, some other owls can create potential confusion:
Great Horned Owl
The most common barred owl look-alike is the great horned owl. Its call is a rhythmic, low-pitched series of 3-8 hoots like “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoo.” But it lacks the barred owl’s bounce and laughing quality.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The tiny saw-whet owl makes a high-pitched, raspy trilling call that speeds up. It sounds like “toot toot toot toot” repeated over and over.
Eastern Screech Owl
Screech owls produce a haunting, shivering whinny or tremolo that descends in pitch. It does not have the barred owl’s distinct cadence.
Barred vs. Spotted Owl
The spotted owl’s call is sometimes confused with the barred. But the spotted makes a shorter, faster, and higher pitched 4-note hoot.
Threats Facing the Barred Owl
Though still common, barred owl populations do face some concerning threats:
Habitat loss
Logging and deforestation have reduced old growth forest habitat needed by barred owls for nesting and hunting.
Range competition
The barred owl’s close cousin, the invasive spotted owl, has begun competing for its habitat range and resources.
Climate change
Shifting suitable habitats and prey availability from climate change may impact barred owl distribution and reproductive success.
Vehicle collisions
Barred owls’ low, swooping flight puts them at risk of collisions with cars when flying over roads.
Pesticides
Chemicals and pesticides can accumulate in prey consumed by barred owls and inhibit reproduction or survival.
Interesting Facts
Beyond its iconic call, the barred owl has many fascinating facts worth a hoot:
– Barred owls can turn their heads 270 degrees to see in all directions.
– They are cavity nesters, often moving into old woodpecker holes or squirrel nests.
– Barred owls maintain lifelong relationships, only seeking a new mate if one dies.
– These owls are highly adaptable and can thrive in urban and suburban areas.
– Their round facial disk acts like a radar dish to help locate sounds.
– Barred owls are habitual birds with very small home ranges of about 300 acres.
– They are skillful hunters capable of plucking prey from the water’s surface while wading or diving.
Conclusion
With its distinctive “Who Cooks For You” call carrying through forest canopies, the barred owl surely stands out. Its unique vocalizations play an essential role in mating, communicating, defending territory, and sounding alarm. Barred owl populations remain widespread but do face ongoing threats from habitat loss and competition. The barred owl’s signature hooting will likely continue resonating across eastern forests, reminding all within earshot of its presence. This versatile owl remains a hoot to discover for birders and nature enthusiasts.