Typical Barred Owl habitat consists of forests with some mature trees near open country. Their historic range covered the eastern half of North America, but recently the owl’s range has expanded into western North America, they are now breeding in parts of the Pacific Northwest.
We see them every year on Vancouver Island. Though this owl is a nocturnal bird, it is a very opportunistic hunter and will hunt even before dark. They tend to feed mainly on small mammals such as field mice, shrews, and deer mice. It also eats small squirrels, bats, moles, rabbits, and mink. They often sit on a tree branch or any other perch waiting for prey and then swoop down quickly to grab their food. Aside from small mammals, the barred owl will also eat fish, frogs, snakes, lizards, and crayfish. It is said that the pinkish tinge to its belly is due to the amount of crayfish that it eats.
When you hear the barred owl cry at night in the dark swampy terrain that they like, it can be an awe-inspiring experience. The barred owl has a large repertoire of squawks and screams, and can even produce a barking sound. Small wonder that they are known far and wide as the crazy owl.
These are very majestic hunting birds who fly in to swoop up prey on silent wings. There is beauty in its harshness, which you can’t deny. The sounds they make are quite mesmerizing when heard in a silent forest at night. I lay in bed one night to the sounds of one not far from my window, it was captivating. Nature is both beautiful and violent all at once, the circle of life.