| The Spotted Owl is a dark brown nocturnal bird spotted with white. The owl is more heavily spotted on the breast and belly and less so on the wings, back and head. The head is large and round with large dark eyes ringed with concentric brown eye disks and no ear tufts. The eyebrows, lores and bill are grayish in color. Like most raptors the female is slightly larger than the male.
Because of there thick layer of plumage they are very intolerant of the heat and usually seek to perch in cools spots in deep canyons shaded from the sun. They are is difficult to locate as they are one of our rarest species but also they are well camouflaged as their plumage matches the bark of the trees where they perch. If found it will appear to be rather tame and hesitant to fly, allowing humans to approach rather closely.
The breeding habitat consist of the dense coniferous forest, especially those that have older fir growth. They also inhabit desiduous forests located in steep-walled canyons. Each pair of Spotted Owls require 1500 to 2500 acres of forest. The value of these forests to the logging industry is millions and million dollars and the politics of the situation have precluded the protection of the habitat that this endangered species needs to survive. As the habitat is cut down and fragmented their numbered have continued to decline. The pairs mate for life and show a strong site tenacity for their breeding territory returning year after year. The breeding range is limited to the forests of the pacific coast and smaller areas in central California as well as Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
The clutch consists of 1 to 3 and occasionally 4 buff-white eggs laid in a scrape on a cave floor or in an old platform nets of a large bird. The eggs are incubated for about 32 days by the female while the male will bring food to her. For the first 8 or 9 days after hatching the female broods constantly while the male brings food. After that both parents will feed the hatchlings which leave the nest about 35 days after hatching.
Unlike most other owls they will not defend their nest should it be attacked by predators. Predators include the Great Horned Owl, the Red-tail Hawk which preys mainly on the young, and the the common raven which will destroy the eggs.
Like many other owls this owl flies silently. They wait on perches and then swoop on wings that span more than 3 feet and pounce on their prey without a sound.. They are decidedly nocturnal while hunting mostly flying squirrels and wood rats which are critical as a food source during the nesting period. Other rodents as well as small birds, including small owls, snakes and insects are also consumed. Like many other owls they eject pellets of bones and other undigested materials that allows for the study of their diet. Sometimes prey will be cached for later use.
Length: 18 to 19 inches
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