Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Barred Owl

Barred Owl has surged: up 124% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+124%Since 1968

1,797Routes

58Years Surveyed

About the Barred Owl

The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a North American member of the Owls (Strigidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.

Size: 5–27.5 in long (13–70 cm) — a nocturnal raptor (typical for the family)
Habitat: Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
Diet: Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
Range: Recorded on 1,797 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 41 states, most concentrated in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
Family: Strigidae · Birds of prey

Notable Barred Owl Trends

long arc increasecomputed index

Barred Owl has surged in surveyed states: up 124% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Barred Owl Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Barred Owl is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.17 (95% range 0.15–0.20). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±8.5%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-8%Change by 2029

0.17Projected 2029 index

0.15–0.2095% range

±8.5%Backtest error

Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.

Year	Projected index	95% low	95% high
2025	0.17	0.14	0.19
2026	0.17	0.14	0.19
2027	0.17	0.14	0.20
2028	0.17	0.15	0.20
2029	0.17	0.15	0.20

Where the Barred Owl Is Detected

BBS routes recording Barred Owl, sized by most recent count.

Barred Owl Population Trend by State

Barred Owl population trend by state.

Alabama	+66%	1968	94
Alaska	insufficient data	n/a	2
Arkansas	+59%	1969	52
California	insufficient data	n/a	2
Connecticut	+65%	1979	16
Delaware	+173%	1970	8
Florida	+110%	1968	95
Georgia	+307%	1970	88
Idaho	insufficient data	n/a	6
Illinois	+379%	1968	76
Indiana	+53%	1970	35
Iowa	+65%	1973	19
Kansas	12×	1969	40
Kentucky	+87%	1969	42
Louisiana	+122%	1970	73
Maine	+33%	1975	45
Maryland	+490%	1968	61
Massachusetts	+111%	1976	22
Michigan	+18%	1976	49
Minnesota	+65%	1971	46
Mississippi	+120%	1970	55
Missouri	+553%	1973	81
Montana	insufficient data	n/a	3
Nebraska	insufficient data	n/a	6
New Hampshire	+363%	1969	25
New Jersey	insufficient data	n/a	7
New York	+197%	1969	68
North Carolina	+225%	1970	84
Ohio	+144%	1970	40
Oklahoma	+135%	1969	51
Oregon	-47%	2011	14
Pennsylvania	+122%	1970	73
Rhode Island	+118%	1987	3
South Carolina	-29%	1968	38
Tennessee	+181%	1968	44
Texas	-33%	1969	82
Vermont	+327%	1974	25
Virginia	+331%	1969	65
Washington	+142%	1994	32
West Virginia	+203%	1975	48
Wisconsin	+411%	1968	82

Barred Owl Population Trend by Region

Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.

Barred Owl population trend by Bird Conservation Region.

Northern Pacific Rainforest	+379%	1998	33
Great Basin	-40%	1991	17
Northern Rockies	-48%	1992	8
Boreal Hardwood Transition	+118%	1970	93
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain	+147%	1969	39
Atlantic Northern Forest	+247%	1970	118
Central Mixed Grass Prairie	+123%	1972	35
Edwards Plateau	-50%	1981	5
Oaks and Prairies	+80%	1969	56
Eastern Tallgrass Prairie	+468%	1968	173
Prairie Hardwood Transition	+205%	1968	93
Central Hardwoods	+283%	1968	132
West Gulf Coastal Plain / Ouachitas	+5%	1969	95
Mississippi Alluvial Valley	+306%	1968	58
Southeastern Coastal Plain	+125%	1968	298
Appalachian Mountains	+440%	1968	265
Piedmont	+158%	1969	107
New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast	+344%	1968	92
Peninsular Florida	+66%	1968	54
Gulf Coastal Prairie	-69%	1970	18

Barred Owl Conservation Status

Our route-weighted index shows it up about 124% since 1968.

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.