Mating Pair of Barred Owls

Barred owls are a species of birds that mate for life. It is likely that the two birds in the picture, spotted in the early morning hours, are a mating pair due to their close proximity. Owls only tend to interact together in a coupling. They are very territorial in order to protect their hunting grounds and their young. Interactions between non-coupled owls are often aggressive and this picture does not demonstrate aggression. This relationship represents a strategy to use connections to help offspring survive through protection of two adults of the species. These owls form familial connections to raise and protect their young. They build nests in high trees at a height of 20 to 40 feet above the ground. The owls are picky where they build their nests and monitor the area before picking a new nesting area. Both parents perform the same roles to raise their young such as rearing, collecting food, and protection. Barred owls take care of their young for about four months before the juveniles leave the nest and the parents will prepare for the next season for their new young.

• Why is it important for birds to mate for life?

• Do their young have a better chance of survival?
• How do barred owls become mates?
• What happens if one parent dies?

Students could:

• Investigate why mating for life is important to barred owls.
• How do barred owls form connections to make for life?
• How does their behaviors affect their nesting and raising young?
• Are there other animals in our area that mate for life?

• All About Birds | Barred Owl Life History: This website gives well rounded basic information about barred owls.
• ABC Birds | Barred Owls: This website gives more details about every aspect of a barred owl’s life.
• Birdful | Do Barred Owls Pair for Life?: This article gives a list of why mating for life works.
• Wild Yards | Do Owls Mate for Life?: This article describes what happens when an owl in the mating pair dies.