barred owl

American  

noun

1. a large owl, Strix varia, of eastern North America, having its breast barred and abdomen streaked with dark brown.

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Etymology

Origin of barred owl

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

“If we don’t move forward with barred owl removal, it will mean the extinction of the northern spotted owl, and it will likely mean the extinction of the California spotted owl as well,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2025

To the untrained eye, the spotted owl and the barred owl look almost identical.

From New York Times • May 6, 2024

The barred owl is more of a generalist, eating a wider array of food and occupying a broader habitat.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2024

While the more aggressive barred owl is largely responsible for the downward spiral in the northern spotted owl population, so is habitat loss due to increasingly hotter and more destructive wildfire, insects and tree diseases.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

The barred owl was perched on a limb halfway down Frightful’s Mountain.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George