Barred Owl (Northern Barred Owl, Hoot Owl)

A medium-sized owl with striking brown and white barred plumage, dark brown eyes, and a rounded head lacking ear tufts.

Alternating bars of dark brown and white/buff across the feather, typical of Barred Owl cryptic plumage.

Plumulaceous and velvety with long, flexible barbules lacking rigid hooklets, creating a silent-flight adaptation.

Extremely soft, velvety, and matte in texture, lacking any glossy sheen to absorb sound waves during flight.

Soft velvety texture combined with distinct brown and white horizontal barring.

Mature deciduous and mixed forests, often near swamps, rivers, or other bodies of water.

Resident across eastern North America, expanding into the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada.

Apex nocturnal predator controlling small mammal, amphibian, and bird populations.

Great Horned Owl or Barn Owl, distinguished by larger size and different barring or coloration patterns.

Barred Owls are known for their distinctive nine-hoot call, often interpreted as 'Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all?'.

Good condition with intact barbs and no obvious fraying or parasite damage.