Photo courtesy of the US Forest Service

The California Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis occidentalis

This subspecies of the Spotted Owl is found in Sierra Nevada and the Southern Coast ranges. Sadly, its population is has been declining annually by 10% throughout the 1990’s, and is in danger of extinction. A petition was filed to have the California Spotted Owl listed as an endangered species, but after a year-long study the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided that the owl does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The California Spotted Owl is about 17.5 inches long and has a wingspan from 37 to 44 inches. It is nicknamed the Hoot owl because if its call. It is rare to see one of these owls in the wild as they prefer the deepest parts of a dense fir forest. The California Spotted Owl enjoys preening, which means trimming or dressing its feathers with its beak.

The California Spotted Owl enjoys snacking on mice, rats, and small songbirds. A ClassBrain visitor sent us a note conveying the fact that these owls almost exclusively feed on live prey. She has done some work on the California Subspecies where she tracked radio-marked owls, none of which fed in campgrounds.

The California Spotted Owl's only natural enemy is the Great-Horned Owl. This is good since the Spotted Owl had very limited offensive capabilities. These birds lay their eggs on whatever surface is available at the time. They lay two to four eggs each year between March and mid-May. The California Spotted Owl lives as long as 17 years, although the survival rate for the young is quite low.

Source:       U.S. Forest Service, Center for Biological Diversity, Owling.com, Janice Reid