Barred Owl: Strix varia American

Barred owls are common in the woods of North Carolina and are sometimes called “hoot owls” due to their distinctive loud call. Because of the similar pronunciation, people sometimes refer to them as “barn owls” but that name belongs to another species.

Barred owls are native to the Eastern U.S. and Canada but have also begun spreading west. These birds of the night can have a wingspan of nearly four feet and can be quite a surprise when they silently swoop down from a tree. Barred owls seem to thrive in areas of human occupation but are sometimes hit by cars when they chase prey across roads.
Barred owls are not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

However, because they are birds of prey they are protected by state and federal regulations designed to prevent the decline of raptor species.

Barred owl pairs usually nest in cavities in trees. Males may be very vocal if they are competing to attract females at the beginning of the breeding season. Females lay 2-4 eggs in the spring and the young hatch about one month later. The young remain in the nest for about another month.

Like other owls, barred owls eat a diet of small rodents. They have also been known to take larger prey like young rabbits and opossums.