The barred owl has brown and white stripes, or bars, on its chest. That is how it got its name. Its most striking feature, however, is its eyes. It has dark brown eyes. Most owls have yellow eyes.

The barred owl has a rounded head. It does not have ear tuffs. Its tail is long and rounded.

This big owl is best known for one of its calls. People say it sounds like, Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?

The barred owl is nocturnal which means it is active at night. This owl hunts mostly at dawn and dusk. After the owl catches its food, it eats it, bones, fur, and all. Later, it will throw up pellets full of bones and hair.

Like other owls, the barred owl has three eyelids. The top and bottom lid are for blinking and closing the eyes for sleep. Inner lids blink to clean and protect the eyes.

This owl likes to lay its eggs in holes. It will sometimes use an old crow, hawk, or squirrel nest. The mother lays one to five eggs that hatch in about a month.

The barred owl can live 18 years in the wild. Sometimes it might get hit by a car. Sadly, it might get caught in a trap set for other animals. It can be found in the eastern half of the United States, in southern Canada, and the northwestern United States.