Barred owls are medium-sized owls native to North America. They get their name from the horizontal brown and white barring pattern on their chest and belly feathers. Barred owls have large, round heads with no ear tufts and dark brown eyes. Their most distinctive feature is their loud, resonant hooting calls that sound like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” If you happen to see a barred owl, here are some tips on what you should do.
Stop and Observe from a Distance
If you spot a barred owl, the first thing you’ll want to do is stop and take a moment to observe it from a reasonable distance. Don’t get too close right away, as you don’t want to startle or stress the owl. Take in the owl’s size, markings, and behavior. Notice how it moves its head from side to side to enhance its hearing since owls can’t move their eyes. See if you can spot the dark brown eyes amidst its feathered facial disk. Admire its camouflaged plumage that helps it blend into tree bark and branches.
Use Binoculars or Camera Zoom Lens
To get a better look at the barred owl without getting too close, use binoculars or the zoom lens on your camera. This will allow you to see more details like the barring on its wings and tail and the dark stripes on its pale face. You may even spot some subtle rufous coloring on its wings and tail. Getting a close-up view through optics can help you identify key field marks to confirm it is indeed a barred owl.
Listen for Vocalizations
An excellent way to detect and identify a barred owl is by listening for its vocalizations. Barred owls are very vocal, especially during their breeding season between late fall and early spring. The most common barred owl call is a loud, rhythmic hooting that sounds like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” Listen closely and you may hear them make a cackling sound or even scream-like shrieks. Barred owl calls are often easiest to hear at dawn and dusk when the owls are most vocal.
Enjoy from a Respectful Distance
Once you’ve had a chance to observe the barred owl, continue enjoying it from a respectable distance if possible. While you might be excited to see this majestic raptor up close, it’s important not to disrupt its normal behavior. Stay quiet and avoid making sudden movements so you don’t startle the owl. Remaining a safe distance away also discourages the owl from feeling threatened by your presence.
Avoid Using Flash Photography
You’ll certainly want to capture photos or video of the spectacular barred owl. But be sure to turn off your camera flash. The startling bright light can cause stress to the owl. Instead, use a telephoto lens and utilize natural light. You may need to increase your ISO to compensate for low light conditions.
Watch for Signs of Stress
Carefully observe the barred owl’s reaction to your presence. Signs of stress include ruffling feathers, clicking bill, head-bobbing, staring, and leaving the area. If the owl seems distressed, immediately back away to give it more space. Your priority should be minimizing disturbance to the wild owl.
When to Leave the Owl Be
While observing the barred owl, be conscious not to overstay your welcome. Limit your viewing time to just a few minutes, then carry on with your original plans. The barred owl will likely remain in the area if left undisturbed. You can always return later for another look if you do so respectfully. If the owl flies away or seems agitated, take that as your cue that it’s time to leave.
Avoid Visiting Nest Sites
You should always avoid intentionally approaching a barred owl nest. Nesting owls are very protective and easily aggravated by human presence. Barred owls nest in natural tree cavities or old hawk, crow or squirrel nests. They are extremely sensitive to disturbance during breeding season. So if you happen to accidentally encounter a nest, quietly back away immediately.
Don’t Approach Owl Young
You may be tempted to get close to adorable barred owl fledglings you come across in the woods. But baby owls should be treated just like adult owls and admired from at least 30-50 feet away. The parents will be nearby and very defensive of their young. Never intentionally approach owlets. If you accidentally get too close, calmly retreat to a safer observation distance.
What to Do If You Find an Injured Barred Owl
Unfortunately, you may come across a barred owl that appears sick, injured or orphaned. Here are the proper steps to help while keeping both yourself and the owl safe:
Assess from a Distance
First assess the situation from at least 30 feet away. Determine if the owl is simply stunned or frightened versus injured. Look for obvious signs of trauma like bleeding, broken wings or a dead nest mate nearby. Try to determine if immediate medical intervention is required or if monitoring from afar is prudent.
Call Wildlife Rescue Hotline
If the owl clearly needs medical assistance, call a local wildlife rescue hotline or rehabilitator for guidance. Many areas have hotlines staffed 24/7 to dispatch trained wildlife rescuers. Provide details on the owl’s condition and your exact location. Follow their expert instructions and do not intervene unless specifically advised to.
Avoid Handling the Owl
Do not attempt to handle or move the barred owl unless specifically instructed by wildlife professionals. Wild owls are not pets and can inflict serious injuries with their sharp talons and beak if threatened. You may do more harm than good if you intervene incorrectly. Let trained rehabilitators safely capture and transport injured owls.
Observe Barred Owl Behavior Patterns
Barred owls display some predictable behaviors in the wild you may witness. Here are some natural barred owl activities to watch for:
Hunting from Perch
Barred owls frequently hunt by patiently watching for prey while perched on a high tree branch or pole. They may make brief flight sallies to catch prey on the ground. Or launch an attack on prey detected in trees and shrubs using their sharp talons. They typically consume small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Vocal Duets
A pair of barred owls will perform vocal duets together, especially as part of courtship. You may hear the male and female owls calling back and forth with hoots, cackles and gurgles. These bonding duets help the pair reinforce their territory and relationship.
Prey Exchange
A courting or nesting pair of barred owls may pass prey items back and forth in dramatic aerial displays. Watch for the owls flying close together while one grasps prey in its talons. Then the other owl will take the prey in an acrobatic mid-air transfer of food.
Feather Preening
Like other birds, barred owls will periodically preen and tidy their feathers to maintain feather health and realign barbules. Watch for the owl running its beak along its body and wings to distribute antennal oil that conditions the feathers.
Wing Stretching
Owls need to stretch and exercise their wings to keep their flight muscles flexible and strong. You may see a perched barred owl extend one wing then the other into a dramatic full stretch before neatly folding them back.
Ideal Habitats for Spotting Barred Owls
Knowing the ideal habitats and hangouts of barred owls improves your chance of sighting one in the wild. Here are the types of settings where you’re most likely to observe barred owls:
Mature Broadleaf Forests
Barred owls strongly favor older broadleaf and mixed forests with a closed tree canopy. They roost and nest in cavities in large deciduous trees like oak, beech, maple, willow, poplar and sycamore. Lands with watercourses like swamps, riparian areas and floodplains surrounded by mature forests offer prime barred owl habitat.
Forested Parks and Greenspaces
Suitable barred owl habitat is also found in parks, nature preserves and other protected green spaces with standing water and old broadleaf trees. Seek out undeveloped natural areas within urban settings for a chance to spot barred owls close to home.
Wooded Wetlands
Wetland forests containing cypress, tupelo and black gum trees are another barred owl hot spot. The dense cover and abundance of amphibians and insects draw barred owls to swampy wooded wetlands year-round.
Rural Woodlots
Check isolated stands of mature trees in rural agricultural areas, which may harbour barred owls. They offer secluded roosts and nest sites amidst open fields and pastures rich with small mammal prey.
Best Times of Day to Spot Barred Owls
The time of day influences your chances of observing wild barred owls. Here are the optimal times to be out owling:
Dawn
Head out at dawn to catch barred owls ending their nighttime activity and vocalizing before daybreak. The hour before sunrise is prime time to hear them hooting and maybe spot silhouettes in the dim pre-dawn light.
Dusk
Similarly, be sure to listen and watch for barred owls in the hour after sunset. Their hooting voices carry well in the still evening air as they declare their territories at dusk.
Night
Barred owls are active and vocal on clear nights with a full moon. Go owling during peak full moons or during new moons when darkness prevails. Use a flashlight or owl call playback to elicit responses.
Overcast Days
Spotting roosting owls is easiest on dark overcast days when they are active earlier. Low light brings them out while their natural camouflage is more visible against grey skies.
Tips for Photographing Barred Owls
Here are some helpful tips for capturing great photos and videos if you get the chance to photograph a barred owl in the wild:
Use a Telephoto Lens
A telephoto lens in the 200-400mm range allows you to safely shoot from a distance without disturbing the owl. Telephoto lenses compress perspective and bokeh for pleasing owl portraits.
Adjust Your Camera Settings
When shooting in low light, use fast shutter speeds (1/1000 sec or more) to freeze wing motion and avoid blur. Open your aperture wide (f/2.8 or wider) to maximize light. Increase ISO to enable fast shutter speeds. Consider enabling image stabilization.
Focus Carefully
Use a center point to carefully focus on the owl’s eyes to ensure sharpness. Switch to a continuous autofocus mode (AI Servo on Canon or AF-C on Nikon) to maintain focus if the owl moves.
Shoot Raw
Capture owl images in raw format rather than JPG to allow greater control over editing like sharpening, color correction and exposure adjustments later.
Include Habitat & Context
Try to include some of the owl’s habitat in the frame to convey the environmental context. Photographing amid nature provides a stronger visual story.
Ethical Considerations When Observing Barred Owls
If you are fortunate to encounter a barred owl, please be conscious of these ethical considerations:
Never Bait Owls
Never use bait such as mice or roadkill to intentionally attract owls just for photos. This can make wild owls become habituated, aggressive or unsafe around roads.
Be Respectful of Nests
Avoid photographing owl nests, especially when adults are brooding or feeding owlets. Repeated visits add unnecessary stress that could jeopardize the nest.
Limit Use of Playbacks
Ethical photographers sparingly use audio owl call playbacks and only for brief time periods. Excessive playbacks are disruptive and can displace territorial owls.
Follow Leave No Trace Principles
When observing any wild animal, practice Leave No Trace principles to minimize your impact. Do not litter or trample vegetation around owl habitats.
Educate Others
Politely encourage other owl observers to also be respectful through your own ethical actions. Set a good example while enjoying barred owls.
Conclusion
Seeing a majestic barred owl in the wild is a special treat for any nature lover. By learning proper observation etiquette, understanding barred owl behavior, and exploring their habitat preferences, you can have rewarding encounters with these charismatic raptors. Visiting barred owls in a responsible manner ensures minimal disturbance while creating memorable experiences that build appreciation for local wildlife.