| Description |
large and stocky; broad wings; short tail; gray-brown with white barring above and pale with dark, horizontal barring on the upper chest, and dark vertical streaking below; big brown eyes; yellow bill |
| Sex |
females larger than males |
| Age |
juveniles beg with a rising hiss "ksssssshhip" sound;there is no difference in plumage |
| Length |
17-24" |
| Wingspan |
3.5' |
| Weight |
1.6 lbs. |
| Habitat |
coniferous or mixed woods; wooded swamps and river bottoms |
| Status |
fairly common throughout a wide range of habitats |
| Range |
Canada to Honduras |
| Behavior |
more likely than other owls to be heard during the day; lays 3-4 white eggs in abandoned bird or squirrel nests, tree cavities or stumps; eggs incubated mainly by female for 4 weeks; chicks leave nest at 4 weeks but arenâ??t able to fly yet, so they crawl out using their beak and talons and sit on branches; they fledge at 6 weeks; mainly nocturnal but are more likely than other owls to be heard during the day; easily flushed; hybridized with the spotted owl; may be a very rare breeder in SE Alaska |
| Diet |
mainly mice; also small mammals, birds, frogs and snakes |
| Vocalization |
rhythmic series of loud hoots; "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all"; drawn out "hoo-a," sometimes following an ascending agitated barking; in chorus a variety of barking, cackling and gurgling notes |
| Other Information |
|
