barred owl

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of barred owl

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

Another, a collaboration with University of Maryland biologists to better understand barred owl dispersal patterns in western forests, was nearly complete when terminated.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2025

It’s also unclear what effect the federal job cuts will have on a controversial strategy to control what’s widely considered the northern spotted owl’s top threat — the slightly larger, more aggressive barred owl.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2025

To the untrained eye, the spotted owl and the barred owl look almost identical.

From New York Times • May 6, 2024

Now the barred owl is outcompeting spotties everywhere they live.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 24, 2023

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

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George