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Barred Owl

Strix varia

Bird · family Strigidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Barred Owl
Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
43 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
26 years[4]

The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is an owl in the family Strigidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States[2][6], and it is native in 43 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Barred Owl a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2] and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1], but as a migratory bird it is protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. It is also on CITES Appendix II, which means its international trade is controlled[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II

Where Barred Owl lives

NatureServe lists the Barred Owl as native in 43 US states and territories[3]. These cover much of the East and South, such as Florida, Georgia, Texas, New York and Maine, plus states in the Midwest and Plains like Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota[3]. In the West it is listed as native in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska[3].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S4VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S4MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank SUSDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S2B,S2NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4B,S4NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S2DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S2DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (43 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS2Imperiled
District of ColumbiaS2Imperiled
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaSUUnrankable
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
VermontS4Apparently Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

Barred Owls live in hardwood, conifer and mixed forests, as well as forested wetlands, herbaceous wetlands and land along streams[11]. They usually need large stretches of forest with big old trees, including dying ones, whose holes give them sheltered spots to rest and nest[12]. They seem to favor older woods with a fairly open forest floor and a mostly closed canopy of leaves overhead, but they can use younger forest if enough large trees, dead snags or nest boxes are around[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

Barred Owls are meat eaters that also eat invertebrates (animals without backbones)[13]. Mice and other small mammals usually make up most of what they eat, along with birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects or other small creatures, and in Mississippi crayfish may matter more than mammals[14]. A typical adult is about 53 cm (21 in) long[15] and weighs about 801 g[16]. A clutch usually holds 2 to 3 eggs, which are incubated for 28 to 33 days, and the young can fly at about 6 weeks[17]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 34 years[18], and the oldest known banded wild bird was at least 26 years 7 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 53 cm (21 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 801 g (28.3 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[18] 34 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 26 years 7 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 2
Gestation or incubation[20] 28 days
Female maturity[21] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[13] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[22] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 70% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% reptiles and amphibians
  • 10% invertebrates
  • 10% fish

When to look for it

Barred Owls are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, which means they are active at night and around dawn and dusk[24]. Parents feeding young may also hunt by day[25]. Most populations stay put, though the northernmost ones partly migrate[26][22]. GBIF observation records in the United States peak in March, April and May, which reflects when people look and report, not how many owls there are[27].

January: 75,145 recordsJanFebruary: 87,929 recordsFebMarch: 117,278 recordsMarApril: 184,535 recordsAprMay: 196,942 recordsMayJune: 89,529 recordsJunJuly: 63,511 recordsJulAugust: 67,531 recordsAugSeptember: 93,327 recordsSepOctober: 76,897 recordsOctNovember: 51,465 recordsNovDecember: 64,704 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January75,145
February87,929
March117,278
April184,535
May196,942
June89,529
July63,511
August67,531
September93,327
October76,897
November51,465
December64,704

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Barred Owl as present in 116 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 92 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New York, Wisconsin[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Barred Owl endangered?
No. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2]. It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].
Where do Barred Owls live?
NatureServe lists them as native in 43 US states and territories, from Florida and Texas to Maine, Washington and Alaska[3]. They live in forests and wooded wetlands[11].
What do Barred Owls eat?
They mostly eat mice and other small mammals, plus birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates[14].
How big is a Barred Owl?
A typical adult is about 53 cm (21 in) long[15] and weighs about 801 g[16].
How long do Barred Owls live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 34 years[18]. The oldest known banded wild Barred Owl was at least 26 years 7 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Barred Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Barred Owl: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Barred Owl as native in 43 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Barred Owl from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 26 years 7 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a bird in the family Strigidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Barred Owl is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Barred Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Barred Owl: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Herbaceous wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Barred Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Barred Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 53 cm (21 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 801 g (28.3 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Barred Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 34 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 2. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 28 days. AnAge
  21. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  22. NatureServe migration category for Barred Owl: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 70% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% reptiles and amphibians, 10% invertebrates, 10% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on phenology for Barred Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Barred Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Barred Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Barred Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Barred Owl: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New York, Wisconsin. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.