How the Barred Owl Survives

     The Barred Owl easily adapts to its habitat. While it prefers to nest in the tops of trees or in cavities of trees, Barred Owls will often use other owl’s nests or nest sticks to create a nesting area. In the Pacific Northwest, the Barred Owl could live in either a Douglas Fir or a Blue Spruce. The barred owl is very adapt to different habitats living from the Mexico all the way north to Alaska.  
       Movement for Barred Owls occurs mainly by flight. Its large wing span allows for easy flight, with little noise. When the owl leaves its nest, it typically creates a distracting by flying in a U-shaped pattern. This behavior confuses potential predators of the nest location. This owl also has the ability to walk and hop. When owls use their legs for movement, wing movement normally accompanies it.
         When reacting to environmental stimuli the Barred Owl uses its many senses. It uses its eyes for seeing in very dim light. Another nocturnal creature is a bat. Within the eye it has more rods than cones, which allows for vision in dim light, although it does distort their color perception. The Barred Owl’s hearing allows them to place exactly where sounds come from. This helps them accurately pinpoint their prey. Within their ear system, owls have a large amount of auditory neurons. The most prominent structure that the Barred Owl possesses are its wings. By having large wings, it allows them to engage in silent flight. Owls feathers are also adapted to increase the silence of their flight. This allows them to surprise their prey, allowing a smaller opportunity for prey to escape. To learn more about how the Barred Owl survives, click here to see its habitat.