262 
STRIGIFORMES 
36S. Barred Owl. le chat-huant d’am£rique. Strix varia. L, 20. Plate XXXIV 
A. A large, hornless, black-eyed owl, smaller than the Great Horned; coloured in brown- 
ish grey and white. 
Distinctions. The only other round-headed owls this species resembles are the Spotted 
and the Cinereous. It is too far removed in range from the former to be confused with it. 
The smaller size, black instead of yellow eyes, and combination of sharply barred breast 
and striped underparts, wall separate it easily from the Cinereous. 
Field Marks. Size, absence of ear tufts, and general grey-brown colour with bars 
across breast. 
Nesting. In hollow trees or in deserted nests of crows or hawks. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Canada, west to, and including, southern 
Manitoba. 
SUBSPECIES. Several subspecies of Barred Owl are recognized. The only one 
that occurs in Canada is the Northern Barred Owl (le Chat-huant du Nord) Strix varia 
varia. 
Though apparently a fairly large bird the Barred Owl when stripped 
of its feathers is comparatively small. Added to this it is a bird of gentle 
nature and lacks the keen aggressiveness of some of its relatives. Its notes 
are loud, the weird hooting carrying far in the still, night air. 
Economic Status. Though fowls have been known to roost repeatedly 
without harm in trees from which Barred Owls hooted every night, the 
latter are too often regarded as enemies and killed indiscriminately. Of 189 
stomachs examined, 5 contained poultry or game; 13, other birds; 46, 
mice; 18, other mammals; 4, frogs; 1, a lizard; 2, fish; 14, insects; 2, 
spiders; and 9, crawfish. The fowls, only two cases, can be regarded 
as accidental, probably offal or carrion, as they were both taken in January, 
when ordinarily the fowl would be full grown and beyond the powers of 
this weak owl to kill. The status of this bird is most satisfactory. 
369. Spotted Owl. le chat-huant tacitetis. Strix occidentalis. L, 20. A large, 
round-headed, hornless owl, with black eyes, of same size and general appearance as the 
Figure 381 
Spotted Owl; scale, R 
Barred, except that it is rich wood-brown 
instead of ashy brown and darker below; the 
light, dark-striped underparts of the Barred 
Owl being represented by dark feathers with 
large white spots along their sides, and show- 
ing the buffy ochre of the under-plumage. 
The general effect of the underparts suggests 
barring rather than striping. 
Distinctions. Most like the Barred Owl, 
but so separated from if in range as to make 
confusion very improbable. The only owl it 
is likely to be mistaken for is the much larger 
and yellow-eyed Cinereous. 
Field Marks. The only large, round- 
headed owl likely to be met with in summer 
time in southwestern British Columbia. Much 
smaller and browner than the Cinereous. 
Nesting. In caves and under heavy over- 
hangs of rock. 
Distribution. Western North America, 
north to the boundary. In Canada, occurring 
rarely only in extreme southwestern British 
Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies are recognized. The form to be expected in Canada 
is the Northern Spotted Owl (le Chat-huant tachet6 du Nord) Strix occidentalis caurina. 
This is a rare species anywhere, and has been taken in Canada on 
only a few occasions. 
