ADW: Strix Varia: INFORMATION - Animal Diversity Web

Reproduction

Strix varia is monogamous, pairing for life.

Barred owls form mated pairs that stay together for life.

• Mating System
• monogamous monogamous

Although barred owls prefer to nest in tree cavities, this species is known to use empty hawk nests, crows nests, or squirrel nests. A clutch of usually two to three eggs (range is from 1 to 5) will be laid in the nest; the female incubates the eggs for 28-33 days. Young do not all hatch at the same time, since egg laying occured over a period of days and incubation began immediately. While the female incubates eggs the male will hunt for her. Barred owls are capable of breeding at about 2 years of age.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
  • internal internal
• oviparous oviparous

Breeding interval Barred owls breed once yearly. Breeding season Breeding season occurs from December to March. Range eggs per season 1 to 5 Average eggs per season 2.5 Average eggs per season 2 AnAge Range time to hatching 28 to 33 days Range time to independence 6 (high) months Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 2 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 2 years

Nestlings are brooded by the female for three weeks, and fed by the male. Nestlings' eyes open after seven days, and at four to five weeks the young will leave the nest and venture to adjacent branches. At six weeks old the young will learn to fly. Parental care is exhibited for up to six months in Strix varia .

• Parental Investment
• altricial altricial
• male parental care male parental care
• female parental care female parental care