Barred Owl Sketch

I started a new owl painting. This piece is a barred owl and is a little larger than the last owl I painted. It is only a sketch in this post, but the color version of it is beginning to take shape on my easel and should be completed soon.

I really love painting all species owls, but Barred owls are one of my favorites. I have been able study quite a few of them in my visits around the country to various wildlife rehabilitation and education centers. I am always drawn to the dark eyes of the barred owl. They seem to be immediately captivating, and often appear to be black when they aren’t in direct sunlight.

There are very few owls in North America that have dark eyes. The Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Spotted Owl, and of course, the Barred Owl. Most of the owl species have the more common golden iris, that is also very striking in it’s own way.

Occasionally, I have been able to see the Barred Owl in the wild while on a nature hike. I was able to spot one during a day trip hike in the Everglades a few years ago, though the Barred Owls in Florida do look a bit different than our northern Minnesota variety, primarily smaller and thinner from my observations.

I have been able to listen to them fairly regularly here in Minnesota, though I haven’t been able to spot one of them in the wild yet. Quite often there are two of them calling to each other during the winter, courting.  See the comment post for a Barred Owl audio clip.  Enjoy!