Side-by-side comparison of a spotted owl and a barred owl.

Identification

As much as we love spotted owls and would like to confirm sightings, the odds of seeing one in the wild unfortunately are slim to none. The spotted owl is one of Canada's most endangered species. The size of old-growth forests needed for this species is no longer found in the Greater Vancouver area, and spotted owls have never existed on Vancouver Island.

Owl sightings near urban or residential forests are not spotted owls. They may be any one of British Columbia's other owl species, but are most likely barred owls.

Every year dozens of people contact us who mistakenly think they have seen a spotted owl. You can learn to identify the owls in your area by understanding the differences in their physical appearance, geographical location and habitat, and sounds.

From the FRONT:

Northern spotted owls have dark chocolate-brown feathers with horizontal white spots (right). Barred owls are light grey with vertical brown stripes or bars, for which they are named (left). Both have dark brown eyes. While northern spotted owls have a brown facial disk with a prominent white X around their eyes and beak, barred owls have a white facial disk with a less distinct X.

From the BACK:

Barred owls look more brown from behind, but are still not as dark as the northern spotted owl- they have more grey patterning throughout. The northern spotted owl is named after the small, white spots on the top and back of their heads.

Forest with tall trees and green leaves.

With fewer than six wild spotted owls left in British Columbia, sightings are improbable and exceedingly rare! If you suspect you have seen a northern spotted owl, take note of the location. Northern spotted owls are exclusively found in old-growth forests but are NOT found on Vancouver Island. Each pair requires 30 squared kilometres of 150+ year-old forests (seven times the size of Stanley Park) to survive.

Barred owls can be found in both forested and urban areas. If you see an owl in your backyard or a city park, it is likely a barred owl. Barred owls are common throughout the Greater Vancouver area and Vancouver Island.

A great way to tell owls apart is by listening. Owls are quite vocal (especially at dawn and dusk) and if you listen carefully, you’ll be able to tell owl species apart. Owls can make many different sounds, but the most distinguishable call from a barred owl is the "whoo cooks for you" while the northern spotted owl has a four-note call. Visit www.allaboutbirds.org to hear barred owls sounds, and search for other bird species.

Test Your ID Skills Here

Flow chart for identifying owl species in British Columbia.