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Barred Owl
strix varia
By Avery
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordate
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Species: Varia
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Physical Description
The Barred owl is a brownish-gray color. They have a round head
and brown eyes, they have no ear tufts. They are called the Barred owl because
the plumage on their chest looks like bars.The males are 48 cm in length
and have a weight of about 630 g. The females are 51 cm in length
and have a weight of about 800g.
Diet and Feeding Habits
The Barred owl is a carnivore although it sometimes eats plants and berries,
so it is an omnivore. It’s main diet consists of mice. The Barred owl will
occasionly eat birds like crows or blue jays. The Barred owl might also eat
reptiles such as salamanders, it is fond of fish and will eat them also.
The Barred owl sometimes eats insects .
Reproduction
Mating season for the Barred owls is from December to March. The barred owls
pair for life. The female Barred owl will sit on the eggs for about thirty-two days. In a week
the young Barred owl babies can open their eyes. In about four to five weeks
the Barred owl babies explore their tree. In six weeks they learn how to
fly. The Barred owls take care of the young chicks for half a year then the
young Barred owls leave the nest and their family behind.
Habitat
The Barred owl likes to live in deciduous forests in the holes in trees that
have been made by other animals. The Barred owl populates most of North America,
it is not usually found in the west but now it has been seen more frequently
in those areas.
Role in the Ecosystem
The Barred owls role in the ecosystem is to retain small mammal
populations such as mice and lizards. It also eats bugs like mosquitoes
and flies which is a good thing for us. They keep small crop damaging
rodents under control. The Barred owl has no negative effect on us.
Bibliography
www.illinoisraptorcenter.org
www.evergreen.edu
www.peregrinefunding.org
Eastern Birds of Prey By: Neal Clark
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