Scowl

Barred Owl

Height: about 14 inches (feet to head)

Weight: Approx 800 grams (1.8 pounds)

Wingspan: 3-4 feet

Color: Gray with brown and black

Species: Strix Varia

Age: 11 yrs

Scowl's History

Scowl the barred owl was found by people who thought they could raise her. They imprinted her on humans, making her think she is a tiny human, not an owl. She can fly and do anything a wild bird can do, but she does not know how to hunt or survive in the wild. She also thinks people are invading her territory, and will attack them. She now stays with us at the American Wildlife Refuge and is one of our most popular visitors in schools and educational shows.

• Scowl joined us in 2001.
• Scowl can hear your heartbeat from about 20 feet.
• Scowl can make over 300 different sounds.
• Scowl eats mice and other small animals. She can eat 3-4 mice each day.

Scowl is one of the most innocent looking birds we have. She is also one of the fastest to attack. It is not uncommon for Scowl to attack anyone going into her cage, or to try to bite and claw people when she is on the fist. Scowl cannot hunt as she does not understand wildlife. Food to her is something people drop into her cage.

Barred Owl - Strix Varia

Barred Owls are one of the most widely spread owls in the US. These gray and brown birds are sometimes called the hoot owl or the maniac owl for all the sounds they make.

Sounds vary from their “Who Cooks For You, Who Cooks For You All!” call to monkey sounds, clicking sounds and baby crying sounds. They can mimic other animals including ducks. Barred owls are most known for their loud calls and silent flight. They are usually found in areas near water, like lakes, rivers, creeks ponds, etc. Barred owls have extremely good hearing, so they avoid noise.

Barred owls are mostly nocturnal. They only hunt in the day when they have babies in the nest. Their black eyes are just as capable of sight as ours. They hunt mostly by sound. Barn owls have the ability to hear the heartbeat of a mouse at 100 feet.