Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Barred Owl vs Screech-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
Screech-Owl
Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Screech-Owl
Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Screech-Owl
Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Screech-Owl
Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl vs Screech-Owl (Strix varia vs Megascops species): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The big owl and the little owl of wooded yards. Three rules:
- Size: crow-sized = Barred Owl; robin-sized = a screech-owl.
- Head: smooth and round = Barred; small ear tufts = screech-owl.
- Eyes: dark = Barred; yellow = screech-owl.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The big tuftless owl and the small tufted owls, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Barred Owl | Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Strix varia | Megascops species |
| Length KEY | 21 in (53 cm) | 8.5 in (21.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 42 in (107 cm) | 20 in (51 cm) |
| Weight | 1.6 lb (720 g) | 4.3–8.6 oz (121–244 g) |
| Overall Shape | Large, round-headed, tuftless owl with dark brown eyes | Tiny owl with ear tufts and yellow eyes; red or gray color morphs |
| Male Plumage KEY | Brown-gray with horizontal barring on the chest and vertical streaks on the belly; dark eyes (sexes alike) | Gray or rufous-red, intricately streaked and barred like tree bark; small ear tufts; yellow eyes (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, averaging larger | Identical to the male, averaging larger |
| Bill Shape | Pale yellow, small | Small, yellow-green |
| Tail | Short, barred | Short, banded |
| Core Range KEY | Eastern forests and wooded suburbs; now expanding through the Northwest | East of the Rockies — woods, orchards, parks and tree-lined suburbs |
| Migration | Non-migratory resident | Non-migratory resident |
| Feeder Presence | Never visits feeders; hunts small mammals and amphibians in wooded yards | Never visits feeders; accepts backyard nest boxes and hunts insects and mice at night |
| Favorite Foods | Mice, voles, squirrels, frogs, crayfish, birds | Insects, mice, small birds, earthworms |
| Song KEY | The famous “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all” — eight hoots | A descending tremulous whinny and a long monotone trill |
| Flight Call | The eight-hoot phrase plus wild cackles and duets | Whinny, trill, and soft barks |
| Population Trend | Stable and expanding westward; competes with Spotted Owls | Stable; commoner in suburbs than most people realize |
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.
Screech-Owl — Male
Megascops species
- Tiny — robin-sized — with ear tufts and yellow eyes.
- Red or gray morphs, both bark-camouflaged.
- The whinnying night voice of eastern suburbs.
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.
Screech-Owl — Female
Megascops species
- Identical plumage, larger body.
- Uses nest boxes with a 3-inch entrance hole.
- Suns at cavity entrances on winter days.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Barred Owl | Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Crow-sized, 21 in | Robin-sized, 8.5 in |
| Ear Tufts | None | Small but obvious when raised |
| Eyes | Dark brown | Yellow |
| Plumage | Gray-brown, chest bars plus belly streaks | Red, gray or brown morphs with fine streaking |
| Range | East plus the Northwest | Screech-owls nationwide — Eastern and Western species |
| Nest | Big cavities and old stick nests | Small cavities and nest boxes |
| Voice | “Who-cooks-for-you” | Whinnies and monotone trills |
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
Screech-Owl
Megascops species
Song: a descending tremulous whinny, plus a long monotone trill.
Calls: soft barks and trills between pairs.
Eastern Screech-Owl voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Barred Owl lives in mature eastern forest and river bottoms and has spread across the Pacific Northwest — anywhere with big trees and water.
Screech-owls cover the continent: the Eastern Screech-Owl east of the Rockies and the nearly identical Western Screech-Owl to the west. Both take readily to suburban yards and nest boxes.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Barred Owl: drawn by mice, squirrels and feeder birds at dusk; nests in big natural cavities.
- Screech-owls: hunt insects and mice around yards and are the classic backyard box owls.
- Nest boxes: a small owl box on a trunk hosts screech-owls; Barred Owls almost never use boxes.
- Yard layout: big trees, some standing dead wood, and a chemical-free lawn attract the prey both owls need.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Barred Owls are bold and vocal — answering hoots, hunting at dusk, perching in the open over wooded yards.
Screech-owls are nocturnal and retiring by day — a roosting bird peers from a cavity hole with eyes half closed, then owns the yard after dark.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Size. Crow-sized = Barred; robin-sized = screech-owl.
- Ear tufts. Absent = Barred; present = screech-owl.
- Eyes. Dark = Barred; yellow = screech-owl.
- Voice. Hooted phrases = Barred; whinny or trill = screech-owl.
- Color. Always gray-brown = Barred; red, gray or brown morph = screech-owl.
- Nest box. In a small owl box = screech-owl.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Barred Owl from a screech-owl?
The Barred Owl is crow-sized with a round tuftless head and dark eyes. Screech-owls are robin-sized with ear tufts, yellow eyes, and red, gray or brown color morphs.
How many kinds of screech-owls are there?
Two in the U.S. — the Eastern Screech-Owl east of the Rockies and the Western Screech-Owl to the west. They look nearly identical and are best told apart by range and voice.
Which owl uses a backyard nest box?
Screech-owls — both species readily occupy a small owl box mounted 10–30 feet up. Barred Owls need huge cavities and almost never use boxes.
What do their calls sound like?
The Barred Owl hoots “who-cooks-for-you.” Eastern Screech-Owls whinny like a tiny horse and give a monotone trill; Western Screech-Owls give a bouncing-ball series of short hoots.
Are screech-owls dangerous to pets?
No — at about six ounces a screech-owl hunts insects and mice. Even Barred Owls take prey no larger than a squirrel.
When can I hear these owls?
Year-round — both are non-migratory residents. Screech-owls call most on calm spring and fall nights; Barred Owls hoot all year, with a peak in late winter.
Key Takeaways
- Size: Crow-sized = Barred; robin-sized = screech-owl.
- Ear Tufts: None = Barred; present = screech-owl.
- Eyes: Dark = Barred; yellow = screech-owl.
- Voice: Hoots = Barred; whinny/trill = screech-owl.
- Color: Always gray-brown = Barred; morphs = screech-owl.
- Boxes: Screech-owls are the box owls.