High up in a snow-covered tree, the barred owl watches its prey.
It waits for the right moment, then, swoosh! It leaps gracefully from its perch and grabs its prey in its mighty talons. The prey never heard its stalker coming.
Owls are known as silent hunters. Their feathers do not make a sound while they are flying because the feather ends are spaced far apart so air can cut right through them.
The barred owl, Strix varia, is found in forested areas throughout much of the United States and into Canada, Mexico and Central America. It is named for the bar-like pattern of dark feathers running down its chest.
It eats a wide variety of items. In Maryland, this includes voles, mice, small birds, frogs and even fish.
The barred owl, like other owls, has special tools to help it hunt. Its excellent eyesight helps it to see in the night, when it does most of its hunting.
It also has outstanding hearing. In fact, many owls can hunt on hearing alone and do not need to rely on their sight. And, of course, it has a strong hooked beak and curved talons.
This owl is best known for is its call, which sounds very much like “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all,” with the “all” trailing off at the end. The barred owl is the most vocal owl in Maryland and can be heard calling throughout the year.
Provided by Irvine Nature Center. For more information, visit www.explorenature.org.
