Strix varia
Mature woods, often near water, in the East and increasingly in the Pacific Northwest. Pellet under a roost, smaller than a great horned owl’s is not a safe split.
What does a barred owl look like?
Round head, no ear tufts, dark eyes, brown bars across the chest.
What do barred owl tracks look like?
No useful ground track. A pellet and whitewash in swampy woods point to an owl. Dark eyes and no ear tufts point to barred.
- Pellet under a roost, smaller than a great horned owl’s is not a safe split
- No ear tufts
- Dark eyes
- Brown and white barring on the chest, streaks on the belly
- Whitewash on a limb
What does barred owl poop look like?
Whitewash and a fur pellet under a day roost. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Mature woods, often near water, in the East and increasingly in the Pacific Northwest. Typical places: woods, wetland. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Great horned owl identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell a barred owl from a great horned owl?
A barred owl has no ear tufts and has dark eyes. A great horned owl has ear tufts and yellow eyes.
How to tell a barred owl from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Great horned owl. Owls seldom leave a readable trail. A large owl with ear tufts and a white throat.
Barred owl field marks
- Pellet under a roost, smaller than a great horned owl’s is not a safe split
- No ear tufts
- Dark eyes
- Brown and white barring on the chest, streaks on the belly
Where the sign shows up
Mature woods, often near water, in the East and increasingly in the Pacific Northwest. Typical places: woods, wetland. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
No useful ground track. A pellet and whitewash in swampy woods point to an owl. Dark eyes and no ear tufts point to barred. Whitewash and a fur pellet under a day roost.
Common questions
How do you tell a barred owl from a great horned owl?
A barred owl has no ear tufts and has dark eyes. A great horned owl has ear tufts and yellow eyes.