Invasive barred owl in northwestern California old-growth forest (IMAGE)

Integral Ecology Research Center

Invasive barred owl in northwestern California old-growth forest

Caption

A barred owl (Strix varia) peers from behind a moss-covered trunk at night in northwestern California. Native to eastern North America, the species has invaded the range of the northern spotted owl, where GPS tracking of 56 individuals showed it selects the tallest, oldest, most structurally complex forest—the same stands spotted owls need to nest and roost. Nearly two-thirds of the average barred owl territory fell within mapped spotted owl habitat.

Credit

J. Mark Higley

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License

CC BY

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