Northern Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis caurina
The northern spotted owl is dark-to-chestnut brown in color and sports round or oval white spots on its head, neck, back and under parts. Its flight feathers are also dark brown and barred with light brown or white. Unlike most owls, spotted owls have dark eyes. Although it is often considered to be a medium-sized owl, the northern spotted owl ranks among the largest in North America.
Height About 18 inches
Length About 18 inches (wingspan of around 48 inches)
Weight 1-2 lbs; males smaller than females
Lifespan May live as long as 10 years in the wild and 15-20 years in captivity
Diet
Staples Flying squirrels, wood rats, mice and other small rodents
Also known to eat birds, insects and reptiles
Population
As a result of declining habitat, there are fewer than 100 pairs of Northern spotted owls in British Columbia, Canada, 1,200 pairs in Oregon, 560 pairs in northern California and 500 pairs in the state of Washington.
Range
Northern spotted owls are typically found in old growth forests of northern California and the Pacific Northwest of the United States, as well as in southern parts of British Columbia, Canada.
Behavior
Northern spotted owls are very territorial and intolerant of habitat disturbance. They prefer old-growth forests with tree canopies that are high and open enough for the owls to fly between and underneath the trees. Preferred areas have large trees with broken tops, deformed limbs or large holes used as nesting sites. Each pair needs a large amount of land for hunting and nesting, and although they do not migrate, spotted owls may shift their ranges in response to seasonal changes, such as heavy snows, that make hunting difficult. Northern spotted owls have a distinct flight pattern, involving a series of rapid wingbeats interspersed with gliding flight. This allows them to glide silently down upon their prey
Reproduction
Mating Season February or March
Gestation About 1-2 months
Clutch size 2-3 eggs
The female incubates the eggs for 30 days. After hatching, the female sits with her offspring for 8 to 10 days, eating food brought by the male owl. The young fledge, or acquire the necessary feathers for flying, about 34-36 days after hatching.
Threats
The biggest threat to the Northern spotted owl is loss of old growth forest habitat as a result of logging and forest fragmentation. These threats are made even greater by natural disasters, such as fire, volcanic eruptions and wind storms.
These spotted owls are also affected by increasing barred owl populations. The range of barred owls has been expanding from the eastern United States into western Canada, the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Barred owls displace resident spotted owls and often breed with them, creating hybrids.
Legal Status/Protection
*Endangered Species Act, **CITES Appendix II
*The Endangered Species Act requires the US federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our children and grandchildren.
**Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty with 172 member countries. Appendix I listed species cannot be traded commercially. Appendix II listed species can be traded commercially only if it does not harm their survival.
How You Can Help
- Help spotted owls and other wildlife by adopting an animal at our Wildlife Adoption Center.
- Take Action for Wildlife at our Wildlife Action Center.
