Barred owl (Strix varia) Postcard

Animal card showing a barred owl sitting on a snowy branch. The barred owl (Strix varia) is a large typical owl native to North America. It has a pale face with dark rings around the eyes, a yellow beak and brown eyes. It is the only typical owl of the eastern United States which has brown eyes; all others have yellow eyes. The upper parts are mottled grey-brown. The underparts are light with markings; the chest is barred horizontally while the belly is streaked vertically. The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons. The head is round and lacks ear tufts, a distinction from the slightly smaller short-eared owl, which favours more open, marginal habitats.