#true owls

[uncharismatic-fauna]

The Basics on the Barred Owl

Strix varia goes by many names: the barred owl, the northern barred owl, the striped owl, the hoot owl, the eight-hooter owl, or the who-cooks-for-you owl. The last few names refer to the owl's distinctive hooting call, which is often followed by what is often described as 'maniacal laughter'. The barred owl is native to the old-growth deciduous and coniferous forests of eastern North America, though in recent decades the species' range has expanded across the Rocky Mountains into the Pacific Northwest.

The striped owl can be hard to spot, due to its white and brown plumage. The back and wings are brown with white barring, while the chest is dull white or gray with brown streaks. The face is surrounded by a gray-white disk and framed with a brown mask. This coloration allows the barred owl to blend in seamlessly with the upper forest canopy where it resides-- although some populations in the southern parts of its range have been known to carry a pink tint due to the amount of shrimp they eat. However, S. varia is not a small birds; adults can be anywhere from 40 to 63 cm (16 to 25 in) in length, with a wingspan of 96 to 125 cm (38 to 49 in), and weigh about 630 g (22.2 oz) on average.

Like most owls, the barred owl is primarily nocturnal, though they can be fairly active during the day. When dormant, they roost in tree hollows or nests abandoned by other birds. At night, adults are active in guarding their territory and hunting for small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and large arthropods like moths and crayfish. The only natural predator of adult hoot owls is the great horned owl, which will often drive S. varia from their territory. Eggs and nestlings are sometimes prey for raccoons, weasels, and diurnal birds of prey.

S. varia mates for life, and couples are fiercely defensive of their territories and nests. Courtship and territory establishment begins in late winter, and continues from February to April. Males attract mates with their distinctive who-cooks-for-you call, and further entices prospective females with head bobbing and bowing. Together, the pair then establishes a roost and the female lays up to 5 eggs. She alone incubates the clutch for about a month, while the male hunts for her. After hatching, the female continues to care closely for the chicks for another 2-3 weeks, at which time she joins the male in hunting.

Hatchlings quickly become active, and are prone to falling out of the tree, but even at only 4 weeks old they are able to climb back up the trunk. Siblings have been recorded as being tight-knit, often staying close together in the nest and when learning to fly. Fledging begins at about 6 weeks old, and by 10 weeks young are capable of short flights. However, parents continue to provide care to their chicks until they're 6 months old, at which time the young owls leave (or are forced to leave) and establish their own territories. Mortality in barred owls is highest in their first year of life, and once out of this perilous stage individuals may live to be up to 18 years old in the wild.

Conservation status: The barred owl is a common species, and is considered by the IUCN to be Least Concern. The expansion of its range into the Pacific Northwest is considered one of the major causes of the decline of the northern spotted owl.

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Photos

Mick Thompson

Hal Thrachtenberg

Mark Musselman

#barred owl #Strigiformes #Strigidae #earless owls #true owls #owls #birds #deciduous forest birds #evergreen forest birds #north america #eastern north america #biology #zoology #ecology #animal facts

[rileyclaw]

you know how everything is like a hundred times funnier when you're not allowed to laugh??

#this is almost based on true events. once at a sleepover a friend of mine was in the most ABSURD sleeping position #and we COULDNT keep it together. we woke his ass right up by losing it the second he made a small noise in his sleep #the owl house #toh #my art #human realm hijunks #amity blight #luz noceda #vee noceda #willow park #yes they are used to this but have you considered: your friend sleeping is always going to be hilarious #comic

[pandoratheprocrasticreator]

luz was like "i can believe that my friends all hate me and want to kill me but i will never believe that amity would misquote a book."

#toh #the owl house #watching and dreaming #true nerd shit #luz noceda #amity blight

[zkyeline]

why is it that we keep retracing the same steps

#the owl house #the owl house spoilers #toh spoilers #luz noceda #hunter noceda #philip wittebane #caleb wittebane #toh fanart #fan art #art #luz: ​‘you’re family now’ #me upon rewatching: ahaaa.. it’s true in more ways than you know………

[smokestarrules]

Man we’re really not dancing around the Religion Thing anymore are we 

#so fucking true call it the way it is #toh #toh spoilers #the owl house #the owl house spoilers #philip wittebane #emperor belos #smokey speaks #500 #1k #10K

[carryondrawing]

Me when I'm watching a kids show and the animation suddenly gets really smooth:

#this is true for like 5 different shows #the owl house #toh #steven universe #su #amphiba

[sophfandoms53]

I keep thinking about how aggressively tall Hunter is compared to the rest of his friends. The way he literally just towers over all of them never ceases to amuse me.

Like look at this

This kid is like a fucking tree-oh wait

#ik he’s older than them BUT DUDE #it just looks so funny #they’re so smol and he’s just #a literal tree #maybe Caleb was just tall too #i just remember reading Hunter is apparently between 5’9 and 6’1 #idk if that’s true bc it’s not from an official source #either way #this dude is tall as hell #toh #the owl house #the owl house spoilers #toh spoilers

[professionalunprofessional]

A Spectacled Owl, which is a species of True owl!

#spectacled owls #owls #true owls #birds #birds of prey

[thehecklingmouse]

HUNTER THINKING HE HAD NO ONE WAITING FOR HIM THEN CUT TO DARIUS IM GOING INSANE

#toh hunter #toh darius #and eber too lol #watching and dreaming #toh spoilers #the owl house #bones screams into the void #my found family came true <3

[jackieuniversecosplay]

I saw your messages about my Flapjack staff but have you seen my handmade one?

#the owl house #cosplay #toh #hunter toh #toh hunter #hunter cosplay #the owl house cosplay #toh cosplay #golden guard #canonically making palismans #all day long #like a true totally not obsessed cosplayer #dont judge me it's my job now

[xanderindisguis]

The lady in question can be whoever you want

#fionna and cake #scarab #scarab the god auditor #orbo #kheirosiphon #cosmic owl #za baby #plant lady #still dont know her name #he gets NO BITCHES #NO MEN #NO IN BETWEEN #we all know it's true #prohibitedwish

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Owls live in trees, right? Not all of them! Burrowing owls are the only bird of prey in North America and the owl species in the world to live on the ground. This species often takes over burrows abandoned by ground squirrels or foxes, although they will excavate their own if necessary. Even more unusual, burrowing owls are diurnal, and are active mostly during the day.

(Image: A burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) on lookout duty, by Christopher Lindsey)

If you like what I do, consider buying me a ko-fi!

#burrowing owl #strigiformes #strigidae #owls #true owls #birds #uncharismatic facts

[yellowpie]

Honestly at this point Dana Terrace deserves to be given a gun and complete legal immunity

#the owl house #the entire episode. over two weeks early. #fantastic job iTunes #at least true colors had the excuse of suddenly being delayed with <24 hours notice

[letssofia3006]

Guys don't you hate when some child soldier told you your dad is going to die thanks to a tattoo?

#gus porter #the owl house #toh #toh spoliers #perry porter #hunter accidentaly traumatize every hexside student by telling them the true #my art

[maskednerd]

#ah yes the face of true evil #>:) #the owl house #toh #philip wittebane #luz noceda #textpost memes

[smokestarrules]

by the way this is the funniest fucking screenshot in the entire show. if you even care

#I WON I WON I /WON/ WITH THIS CHARACTERIZATION OF HER #SO FUCKING TRUE #toh #toh spoilers #the owl house #the owl house spoilers #boscha #amity blight #smokey speaks #500 #1k #10k