The spotted owl, which is named for the many white spots displayed on its chest, is about 19 inches in length and has a wingspan of 40 inches.
Other species of owls in the Sierra Nevada range from the small flammulated owl, Northern pygmy owl, and Western screech-owl, to the large great horned owl and rare great gray owl.
What do spotted owls eat?
Their main sources of food are wood rats, white-footed mice, and flying squirrels. They hunt from perches and may cache prey to consume later.
How do spotted owls reproduce?
They usually make their nests in the cavity of a cliff or tree where they lay two to three white eggs. They have one brood per year, and breed between March and June. Pairs tend to stay together and may use the same nest site for up to a decade, although they may not breed each year. Owls typically aren’t capable of reproduction until they are around 3 years old.
Threats to the spotted owl
Although they can be found in oak woodlands, they are primarily found in mature or old-growth conifer forests. The past and present loss of this type of habitat from logging has led to a serious decline in Spotted Owl numbers in recent years and resulted in their listing as a state and federal sensitive species.