Barred owls (Strix varia) are medium-sized owls native to North America. They get their name from the horizontal brown and white barred pattern on their chest and belly feathers. Barred owls are nocturnal birds, meaning they are most active at night.
When do barred owls wake up?
Barred owls typically wake up around sunset when daylight starts to fade. Their large eyes and excellent low light vision allow them to see well in the dark. As nocturnal hunters, barred owls want to be awake and alert when their prey also becomes active. At sunset, small mammals like mice, voles, and rabbits emerge from their burrows and nests to forage under the cover of darkness.
Peak activity times
Barred owls are most active in the middle of the night when it is darkest. Their peak activity levels occur between midnight and 4 am. During these hours, barred owls are busy hunting, flying between perches, and communicating with other owls. The dark conditions provide the best camouflage for these stealthy predators to ambush unsuspecting prey.
Hunting behavior
Barred owls employ a sit-and-wait hunting strategy. They perch on a high tree branch or pole and wait motionless for prey to come into view. When target prey is spotted, barred owls swoop down silently with their large talons outstretched to snatch their victim. Barred owls may consume their prey on the spot or carry it back to a nest or feeding perch. A single barred owl can eat up to 5 small rodents per night.
Vocalizations
The classic call of the barred owl is a rhythmic series of eight accented hoots: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” Barred owls vocalize frequently at night to establish territories and attract mates. Peak calling occurs just before dawn around 3 to 5 am. This increased communication suggests barred owls are winding down their nocturnal activities as sunrise approaches.
Roosting behavior
As daylight breaks around 5 to 6 am, barred owls start making their way back to their nest or roost sites to settle in for the day. Barred owls roost in cavity trees, abandoned woodpecker holes, and natural platforms formed by broken tree limbs. By retreating to a sheltered roost, barred owls can safely sleep through the day away from predators and disturbances.
When do barred owls sleep?
Barred owls typically enter their roosts to go to sleep between 6 to 8 am in the morning. They tuck their heads into their shoulders and close their eyes to rest. On very cloudy days, barred owls may continue hunting later into the morning before bedding down. But most days they retire to roosts by mid-morning to sleep soundly until dusk.
Do barred owls sleep at night?
Barred owls rarely sleep at night when they are most active. However, they can take short nighttime catnaps lasting 10 to 20 minutes. These brief snoozes allow barred owls to refresh while still remaining alert to danger. Owls can sleep with half their brain at a time, keeping one eye open for threats.
Daytime habits
During daylight hours when barred owls are asleep in roosts, they are vulnerable to harassment from songbirds. Crows, jays, and smaller birds often mob sleeping owls and scold them with alarm calls. Barred owls just hunker down and wait out the noisy disturbances. They may change roosts if continuously bothered by mobbing birds over successive days.
Roost reuse
Barred owls exhibit high roost site fidelity. They tend to reuse the samecavity or tree platform over and over again. Returning to a familiar roost minimizes energy expenditure and provides security. Barred owls may have multiple alternate roosts within their home range to rotate between as needed.
Camouflage
The mottled brown and white plumage of barred owls provides excellent camouflage against tree bark and mottled sunlight. Their barred feather patterns help the sleeping owls blend seamlessly into the backgrounds of their roost sites, concealing them from potential predators.
Darkened roosts
Barred owls often choose roost cavities or platforms facing away from the sun so the interior remains darkened. Their light-sensitive eyes need protection from harsh sunlight while sleeping during daytime hours. The shaded sites help the nocturnal owls get some much-needed undisturbed rest.
Factors that influence activity
Several factors impact the daily and nightly rhythms of barred owls:
Prey availability
Barred owl activity is heavily influenced by the activity patterns of their prey. In areas with abundant voles, mice, rats, and other small mammals, barred owls may start hunting earlier and retire later to capitalize on constant food availability.
Seasons
Barred owls are most active in fall and winter when prey is easier to locate in sparse vegetation. They are slightly less active in spring and summer when prey has more cover options. Nesting duties in spring can also decrease activity.
Weather
Rainy, windy, cold conditions can suppress barred owl activity levels. But higher winds also increase prey availability as small mammals have to forage harder. Moderate overcast nights are ideal hunting conditions for barred owls.
Light pollution
Areas with excessive artificial light at night negatively impact barred owls by causing them to hunt and vocalize less. Light pollution alters their natural rhythms and gives prey more opportunity to see and evade them.
Age
Juvenile barred owls under one year old spend more time being active while honing their flying and hunting skills. Older adult owls are more efficient hunters and can fulfill their needs with less effort.
Daily activity timeline
Here is a typical 24-hour daily activity timeline for a barred owl:
Time | Barred Owl Activity |
---|---|
5 am | Returns to roost |
6 am | Falls asleep in cavity roost |
8 am | Sleeping soundly in roost |
Noon | Resting in darkened roost |
3 pm | Sleeping through afternoon |
6 pm | Wakes up at sunset |
7 pm | Emerges from roost and preens |
8 pm | Starts hunting from perch |
11 pm | Active nighttime hunting and feeding |
2 am | Peak activity, territorial calls |
4 am | Takes short catnaps between hunting |
Conclusion
In summary, barred owls are nocturnal birds of prey that are most active at night when they hunt small mammals under the cover of darkness. Peak activity occurs in the middle of the night between midnight and 4 am. Barred owls return to cavity roosts or tree platforms just before dawn to sleep soundly during daylight hours. Their activity patterns are influenced by prey availability, seasons, weather, light pollution, and age. By resting during the day and hunting at night, barred owls are superbly adapted to their nocturnal ecological niche.