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Barred Owl (Strix varia)

The Barred Owl, a large native bird, is nocturnally active and difficult to spot due to its well-camouflaged, daytime perch on tree branches in the forest. Its preferred habitat is wooded areas, where it feeds on small terrestrial animals, primarily after sunset. This species remains territorial year-round.

Best Locations and Seasons for Sightings

This bird species prefers woodlands and forests. When inactive, it perches on branches high in the trees, but when hunting, it sits on a lower branch, typically no more than 5 meters above the ground. My first and, so far, only observation of this species was in Parc Michel-Chartrand.

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from my park visit journals.

Identification and Similar Species

This larger owl's primary coloration ranges from grey to brown. Its back is brown with white spots, while the belly is white or pale grey with dark vertical lines. The eyes are dark, almost black.

Captured Moments

Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2025-01-15