The Barred Owl is a medium-sized gray-brown Owl streaked with
white horizontal barring on the chest and vertical barring on the
belly. They are round-headed with a whitish/brown facial disk with
dark brown trim. The eyes are brown, and the beak is yellow and
almost covered by feathers. They have a long tail. There is no
difference in plumage between males and the larger females.
Barred Owls prefer deep moist forests, wooded swamps, and
woodlands near waterways. Though the Barred Owl is basically a
nocturnal bird, it is a very opportunistic hunter and will hunt
even before dark. The Barred Owl feeds mainly on small mammals such
as field mice, shrews, and deer mice. It also eats small squirrels,
baby rabbits, bats, moles, possums, minks, and weasels. The Barred
Owl often sits on a tree branch or any other perch waiting for prey
and then swoops down quickly to grab its food.
The Barred Owl is a highly vocal Owl giving a loud and
resounding "hoo, hoo, too-HOO; hoo, hoo, too-HOO, ooo" which is
often phrased as "Who, cooks, for-you? Who, cooks, for-you, all?" -
The last syllable drops off noticeably. Like some other Owl
species, they will call in the daytime as well as at night. The
calls are often heard in a series of eight, then silence, when the
Owl listens for a reply from other Owls.
The reason behind the name Barred Owl is the bars of brown and
white across the bird’s chest.
The scenic trails throughout the CMA will cover woodlands and
marshes. There are a variety of boardwalks, but after a rain some
parts of the trails may become wet and then proper footwear is
recommended.
For information on the GSWA, and the CMA, please visit
their web site at www.greatswamp.org
NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in
Northern New Jersey.
NNJC.ORG