One of my favorite species to find here in North Carolina is the Barred Owl.
They are absolutely stunning birds with large expressive eyes and soft fluffy bodies.
I’ve had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with Barred Owls over the years and it never gets old. It’s neat to return to my favorite spots each spring to find the birds hunting in their familiar haunts.

Barred Owls prefer to nest & hunt for prey in wetland areas such as marshes, bogs, swamps and near beaver ponds. They may even be found near rivers and ponds looking for a meal.
The wet, wooded habitat near the large pond at the Pee Dee NWR in NC and at Huntington Beach State Park in SC offer the perfect home for these beauties.
It’s also interesting to note that in recent years, this species have started to nest in wooded lots in suburban areas away from their traditional habitats.
In fact, a few of my sightings have been in highly populated neighborhoods here in the Raleigh area.

Unlike other species of owl, you are likely to hear or see a Barred Owl hooting during the day, yet they are nocturnal hunters.
Their diet consists of mice, moles, squirrels and other small mammals but they will also catch salamanders, frogs, lizards and even crawfish or crabs when the opportunity presents itself.
These handsome birds are a year round resident of North Carolina and although they are more numerous in the central and eastern regions, may be found in nearly every county here in the Tarheel state.
Aren’t they lovely?

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa#5Ds