Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Barred Owl vs Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Barred Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl
Barred Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl
Barred Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl
Barred Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl vs Great Horned Owl (Strix varia vs Bubo virginianus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two big owls of American woodlands. Three rules:
- Ear tufts: a round, smooth head = Barred Owl; big feathered “horns” = Great Horned Owl.
- Eyes: dark brown = Barred; piercing yellow = Great Horned.
- Voice: rhythmic “who-cooks-for-you” = Barred; deep stuttering “hoo-hoo hoooo hoo” = Great Horned.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The hooting forest owl and the tiger of the night, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Barred Owl | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Strix varia | Bubo virginianus |
| Length KEY | 21 in (53 cm) | 22 in (56 cm) |
| Wingspan | 42 in (107 cm) | 44–48 in (112–122 cm) |
| Weight | 1.6 lb (720 g) | 3.1 lb (1400 g) |
| Overall Shape | Large, round-headed, tuftless owl with dark brown eyes | Huge owl with great ear tufts (“horns”) and yellow eyes |
| Male Plumage KEY | Brown-gray with horizontal barring on the chest and vertical streaks on the belly; dark eyes (sexes alike) | Mottled gray-brown with large ear tufts, glaring yellow eyes and a white throat bib (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, averaging larger | Identical to the male, averaging larger |
| Bill Shape | Pale yellow, small | Black, hooked |
| Tail | Short, barred | Short, barred |
| Core Range KEY | Eastern forests and wooded suburbs; now expanding through the Northwest | All of the Americas — every habitat from desert to city park |
| Migration | Non-migratory resident | Non-migratory resident |
| Feeder Presence | Never visits feeders; hunts small mammals and amphibians in wooded yards | Never visits feeders; hunts rabbits, skunks and even other raptors at night |
| Favorite Foods | Mice, voles, squirrels, frogs, crayfish, birds | Mammals up to rabbit and skunk size, birds, reptiles |
| Song KEY | The famous “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all” — eight hoots | Deep, booming “hoo-hoo hooooo hoo-hoo” hoots |
| Flight Call | The eight-hoot phrase plus wild cackles and duets | Deep hoots; young scream a harsh “sheeeek” |
| Population Trend | Stable and expanding westward; competes with Spotted Owls | Stable — the most widespread large owl in the Americas |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Barred Owl — Male
Strix varia
- Round head, no ear tufts, dark brown eyes.
- Horizontal chest barring, vertical belly streaks.
- The “who-cooks-for-you” voice of eastern woods.
Great Horned Owl — Male
Bubo virginianus
- Great ear tufts and glaring yellow eyes.
- White throat bib flashes when it hoots.
- The deep hoots of winter nights, everywhere.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Barred Owl — Female
Strix varia
- Identical pattern, larger than the male.
- Nests in tree cavities and old hawk nests.
- Pairs duet with wild cackling in late winter.
Great Horned Owl — Female
Bubo virginianus
- Identical plumage, larger than the male.
- Uses old hawk and crow nests — nests in mid-winter.
- Fiercely defends nestlings in early spring.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Barred Owl | Great Horned Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Tufts | None — round head | Prominent tufts |
| Eyes | Dark brown | Yellow |
| Throat | Brown-barred chest, no bib | Bright white throat bib |
| Size | 21 in, 1.6 lb | 22 in but twice the mass — 3 lb |
| Plumage | Horizontal chest bars, vertical belly streaks | Fine horizontal barring all over |
| Nest | Old hawk and crow nests, big cavities | Commandeered hawk, crow and heron nests; cliff ledges |
| Voice | “Who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all” | Deep stuttering “hoo-hoo hoooo hoo” |
Song & Call Comparison
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Song: who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all — eight rhythmic hoots.
Calls: cackles, screams and pair duets.
Barred Owl voice • Wikimedia Commons
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Song: deep, booming hoo-hoo hooooo hoo-hoo.
Calls: screams, barks and hisses near the nest.
Great Horned Owl voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Barred Owl owns mature eastern forests and river bottoms and has colonized the Pacific Northwest; it wants big trees and water nearby.
The Great Horned Owl is everywhere — every state, every habitat, from city parks to desert. Where both live, the Great Horned is the dominant predator and Barred Owls keep to deeper forest.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Barred Owl: takes mice, squirrels, frogs and crayfish; visits yards at dusk near feeders and ponds.
- Great Horned Owl: the apex night hunter — rabbits, skunks, ducks, other owls; it is the main predator of adult Barred Owls.
- Neither eats seed — both are drawn by the prey that feeders concentrate: rodents and small birds.
- Pet safety: keep small pets in at night; a Great Horned Owl can take animals up to several pounds.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Barred Owls are curious and approachable — they answer imitated hoots, hunt from low perches at dusk, and often sit in the open.
Great Horned Owls are fierce and wary — hulking silhouettes on a high perch at dusk, nesting in the dead of winter and hissing and snapping if cornered.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Ear tufts. None = Barred; prominent = Great Horned.
- Eyes. Dark = Barred; yellow = Great Horned.
- Throat. No white bib = Barred; white bib = Great Horned.
- Bulk. Slim and tall = Barred; a heavy, hulking barrel = Great Horned.
- Voice. “Who-cooks-for-you” = Barred; deep stuttering hoots = Great Horned.
- Breast pattern. Horizontal bars above, vertical streaks below = Barred; uniform fine barring = Great Horned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Barred Owl from a Great Horned Owl?
The Barred Owl has a round head with no ear tufts and dark brown eyes. The Great Horned Owl has prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes and a white throat bib, and is nearly twice as heavy.
Which owl is bigger?
The Great Horned Owl — similar in length but far more massive, about 3 pounds to the Barred Owl’s 1.6. It is the most powerful owl in North America.
Do Great Horned Owls hunt Barred Owls?
Yes — Great Horned Owls are the main predator of adult Barred Owls, and Barred Owls tend to hold deeper forest where the two overlap.
What does each owl sound like?
The Barred Owl hoots the rhythmic “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all.” The Great Horned gives deep, stuttering “hoo-hoo hoooo hoo” hoots.
When do these owls nest?
Both nest very early — Great Horneds lay eggs in midwinter, often in old hawk nests; Barred Owls start in late winter in big cavities or old stick nests.
Which owl is more likely in a suburban yard?
Both occur, but the Great Horned Owl tolerates almost any habitat including open subdivisions, while the Barred Owl wants mature trees and nearby water.
Key Takeaways
- Ear Tufts: None = Barred; big “horns” = Great Horned.
- Eyes: Dark = Barred; yellow = Great Horned.
- Throat: No bib = Barred; white bib = Great Horned.
- Voice: “Who-cooks-for-you” = Barred; stuttering hoots = Great Horned.
- Bulk: 1.6 lb = Barred; 3 lb = Great Horned.
- Pattern: Bars-then-streaks = Barred; uniform barring = Great Horned.