Strix varia (Programmes Coyote )

Strix varia

Barred owl

Nom français: Chouette rayée

Rich baritone hooting: hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo; hoo, hoo; hoo, hooo-aw!
Usually active at night, but could occasionally be heard calling and seen hunting in the day.
Only a little smaller than the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl is markedly less aggressive, and competition with its tough cousin may keep the Barred out of more open woods.
Its diet is mainly constituted of small mammals such as mice and other small rodents, squirrels, and rabbits. Also eats various birds, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, some insects. May take aquatic creatures such as crayfish, crabs, fish.
Like the other owls, the Barred owl can fly virtually silently—thanks to a set of unique wing and feathers features. They have large wings relative to their body mass, which let them fly unusually slowly by gliding noiselessly with little flapping. Additionally, the structure of their feathers serves as a silencer. Comb-like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers break up the turbulent air that typically creates a swooshing sound. Those smaller streams of air are further dampened by a velvety texture unique to owl feathers.
Permanent resident through its range (do not migrate).