Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Barred Owl vs Eastern 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
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl • Wikimedia Commons
Barred Owl vs Eastern Screech-Owl (Strix varia vs Megascops asio): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two most common backyard owls of the East. Three rules:
- Size: crow-sized = Barred Owl; robin-sized = Eastern Screech-Owl.
- Head: a round head with no ear tufts = Barred; small ear tufts that raise and flatten = screech-owl.
- Eyes: dark brown eyes = Barred; yellow eyes = screech-owl.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The big hooting owl and the little trilling owl, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Barred Owl | Eastern Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Strix varia | Megascops asio |
| 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.
Eastern Screech-Owl — Male
Megascops asio
- 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.
Eastern Screech-Owl — Female
Megascops asio
- 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 | Eastern Screech-Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Crow-sized, 21 in, 1.6 lb | Robin-sized, 8.5 in, 6 oz |
| Ear Tufts | None — perfectly round head | Small tufts, raised when alert |
| Eyes | Dark brown — almost black | Yellow |
| Plumage | Gray-brown with horizontal chest bars, vertical belly streaks | Red or gray morph, fine streaks and intricate patterning |
| Bill | Yellowish | Greenish-gray |
| Nest | Stick nests and big natural cavities | Small cavities; readily uses nest boxes |
| Voice | Rhythmic “who-cooks-for-you” | Descending whinny and monotone trill |
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
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
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 owns mature eastern woodlands and river-bottom forests, and has spread through the Northwest in recent decades. Wooded suburbs with big trees suit it well.
The Eastern Screech-Owl lives east of the Rockies anywhere trees and cavities exist — including small town parks and backyards. It is the owl most likely to use a backyard nest box.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Barred Owl: hunts rodents, birds, frogs and crayfish — it may stoop on birds and squirrels at busy feeders at dusk.
- Eastern Screech-Owl: hunts large insects, mice and small songbirds; a nest box is the best way to host one.
- Nest boxes: a screech-owl box 10–30 feet up on a tree trunk gets used; Barred Owls need huge cavities and rarely take boxes.
- Window strikes: both occasionally hunt feeder birds at dawn — place feeders within 3 feet of windows or beyond 30 feet.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Barred Owls are bold and curious — they answer imitated hoots, hunt at dusk and even in daylight, and tolerate people in wooded suburbs.
Eastern Screech-Owls are strictly nocturnal and secretive by day, roosting in cavities or tight against a trunk — but at night a singing male may sit right over the patio.
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. “Who-cooks-for-you” = Barred; whinny or trill = screech-owl.
- Color. Always gray-brown = Barred; red or gray morph = screech-owl.
- Nest box. Using a small owl box = screech-owl.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Barred Owl from an Eastern Screech-Owl?
The Barred Owl is crow-sized with a round, tuftless head and dark brown eyes. The Eastern Screech-Owl is robin-sized with small ear tufts, yellow eyes, and red or gray color morphs.
Which owl uses backyard nest boxes?
The Eastern Screech-Owl — a box 10–30 feet up on a trunk is often occupied within a season. Barred Owls need very large cavities and rarely accept boxes.
What does each owl sound like?
The Barred Owl gives the rhythmic eight or nine hoots of “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all.” The screech-owl gives a descending, horse-like whinny and a long monotone trill.
Are screech-owls really red?
Some are — Eastern Screech-Owls come in red and gray morphs, and a few are brownish intermediates. The color has nothing to do with age or sex.
Do these owls hunt at backyard feeders?
Both may take small birds or rodents near feeders at dawn and dusk, but they mostly hunt mice, insects and frogs. They are a sign of a healthy yard, not a problem.
Can a screech-owl hurt my cat?
No — at six ounces a screech-owl is no threat to a cat. Even the much larger Barred Owl, at about 1.6 pounds, hunts prey far smaller than a cat.
Key Takeaways
- Size: Crow-sized = Barred; robin-sized = screech-owl.
- Ear Tufts: None = Barred; small tufts = screech-owl.
- Eyes: Dark = Barred; yellow = screech-owl.
- Voice: “Who-cooks-for-you” = Barred; whinny/trill = screech-owl.
- Morphs: Always gray-brown = Barred; red or gray = screech-owl.
- Boxes: Screech-owl = the backyard box owl.