Northern Spotted Owls Habitat

The northern spotted owl is a medium-size owl, although it is one of the largest ones found in North America. It is a dark brown color with white spots on its head, neck and back. The northern spotted owl also has dark eyes, which is unusual for an owl as most owls' eyes are lighter in color.

  1. Population

    • Northern spotted owls are considered an endangered species due to their declining habitats. Most live in the state of Oregon, where there are around 1,200 owls. Other places that northern spotted owls are found are British Columbia, northern California and Washington state.

    Range

    • The declining habitat that these owls live in are the old-growth forests ranging from northern California and the Pacific Northwest area of the United States to southern Canada. Northern spotted owls never migrate so they need a wide range of open land for hunting and nesting.

    Habitat

    • As stated, northern spotted owls prefer to live in old-growth forests. They enjoy having high tree canopies so that they can fly underneath them. Also, these owls use trees with broken tops or large holes in them as nesting sites. Northern spotted owls are extremely territorial and they do not take well to habitat disturbance.

    Threats to Habitat

    • Because northern spotted owls do not migrate and do not take well to habitat disturbance, their numbers are declining more and more as logging and forest fragmentation threaten their habitat. Natural disasters such as fires and wind storms also do not help.

    Displacement

    • Another threat to the habitat of the northern spotted owl is the increase in the barred owl population. Barred owls have been displacing northern spotted owls as they move into their territory. In addition they have also been breeding with one another and therefore creating hybrid owls.