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barred owl

American  

noun

  1. a large owl, Strix varia, of eastern North America, having its breast barred and abdomen streaked with dark brown.


Etymology

Origin of barred owl

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A barred owl hooted and shook its feathers in a sycamore above the creek, and red-bellied cooters sunned themselves on half-submerged logs.

From Slate Apr. 27, 2026

“If we don’t move forward with barred owl removal, it will mean the extinction of the northern spotted owl, and it will likely mean the extinction of the California spotted owl as well,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 19, 2025

Federal officials say that such drastic action is necessary because the barred owl has been encroaching on the territory of the spotted owl for half a century.

From New York Times May 6, 2024

The barred owl is more of a generalist, eating a wider array of food and occupying a broader habitat.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 27, 2024

The barred owl was perched on a limb halfway down Frightful’s Mountain.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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