Barred Owl, Fredericksburg, Virginia
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) can be found in forests across the eastern and mid-western United States, Canada, and more recently it has also expanded its range into the Pacific Northwest. The Barred Owl's diet primarily includes rodents, but it will also eat frogs, birds, rabbits, insects, lizards, and crayfish among other things. The Barred Owl is commonly distinguished by its unique vocalization "who-cooks-for-you." This owl was seen in the wild, perched in a branch in a wooded area over a water canal.