Spotted owl

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The spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) is a true owl that lives in old-growth forests of western North America. It nests in tree hollows, old nests of other birds, or rock crevices high above the ground. It is nocturnal and hunts small mammals and birds, usually from a perch.

There are three subspecies, ranging from British Columbia to Mexico. The northern subspecies, the California subspecies, and the Mexican subspecies occupy different mountain and forest regions. Spotted owls have distinctive cross-shaped markings on their underparts, are about 43 cm long with a wingspan around 114 cm and weigh about 600 g. Their eggs are white and slightly grainy to the touch. They do not build new nests but reuse cavities, and nests can be 12 to 60 meters high. Typical clutches are two eggs, though up to four can occur.

Habitat is mainly closed, uneven-aged, late-successional forests with lots of tall trees and dense canopy. The northern range runs from southwestern British Columbia to California, the California subspecies overlaps with the northern one in the Sierra Nevada, and the Mexican subspecies lives in mountains and canyons of the southwestern U.S. and western Mexico. Spotted owls also use areas with reliable water and substantial tall shrub cover.

Spotted owls are long-lived. They have large home ranges and breeding pairs are monogamous. The female incubates the eggs while the male provides food. The breeding season runs from spring to fall, with young usually leaving the nest after 3–4 months and dispersing up to about 31 km.

The IUCN lists the spotted owl as Near Threatened with a declining population. Major threats include habitat loss from logging, competition with and displacement by the barred owl, and wildfire. In the United States, the northern and Mexican subspecies are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while the California subspecies is proposed for listing. Some conservation efforts have tested removing barred owls to help spotted owls, with mixed results. The spotted owl diet mainly includes small mammals such as woodrats and flying squirrels, but it can also eat birds, bats, and insects.