Overview
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a large North American owl recognized by its rounded head, dark eyes, and distinctive brown-and-white barred plumage. Known for its haunting call that sounds like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?”, it prefers mature forests, swamps, and wooded wetlands where it hunts small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Learn more: Wikipedia – Barred Owl
Photos
Photo Group 1: Two Barred Owls spotted on trails behind the house.
Shot notes:
- Location: Bear Branch Creek Texas
- Date: 05/17/2026
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Settings: A
- Notes: Ran home for the canon and lense kept fogging up when shooting. Owls were initially asleep, but a blue jay spotted them and starting harrassing them which woke them up.