Occurrence in Amherst & Connecticut Valley, Mass.
C19

Regular but not common resident; least common in summer

January - December

C20

A fairly common resident in the hill-country, but very uncommon in the lowlands except sometimes in fall and winter

January - December

C21

Resident; during the winter, the birds may be encountered sunning in deciduous trees or taking shelter in conifers.

January - December

Habitat
Woodlands, wooded river bottoms, wooded swamps.
Nest Materials
a cavity or hollow of a large tree, sometimes in an old hawk's, crow's, raven's or squirrels nest
19th-20th Century Field Notes
BARRED OWL . Regularly barred with liver - brown and whitish . Iris , black or dark brown . Length , 18 - 20 inches . Regular winter resident . Feeds on small birds and quadrupeds , and sometimes poultry . Probably injurious . Note , like that of the great - horned owl , is a strange - hoot . ”

—H.L. Clark, 1887

21st Century Conservation Notes

Still widespread and common, although may have declined in parts of south with loss of swamp habitat. In recent decades, has expanded range in northwest, and is now competing there with Spotted Owl. (audubon.org)*