The Barred owl expanded its range from the eastern United States. It was first reported in Oregon in the early 1970s and has since spread to forested areas throughout most of the state.

Sometimes confused with the closely related Northern spotted owl, the Barred owl is large with grayish-brown and white feathers and stripes on its chest and throat. It is easily distinguished from the Northern spotted owl by the pronounced horizontal barring across the throat and upper breast, and vertical brown streaks on the lower breast and abdomen.

The Barred owl is now a permanent resident in forests of the Cascades, Coast Range, Blue, Wallowa, Strawberry and Klamath mountains and recently reached western Curry County.

Hear the call of the Barred owl

Photo by ODFW