The second-largest resident owl in Pennsylvania is the barred owl. Reaching about 20 inches, it is only a few inches smaller than the great horned owl. Barred owls have black eyes, while the great horned, screech and barn owls have yellow eyes.

I have seen or heard great horned owls almost everywhere in the Times News area. However, I have only seen barred owls in one area of Franklin Township, on a section of the Blue Mountain, and on the east and west sides of Wild Creek Reservoir. I would bet that the Tippet’s Swamp area or wet drainage areas along Mahoning Creek will sustain populations also. The areas where I have seen the owls are all wet or stream side habitats. Barred owls are much more common in our southern states in swamps and river bottoms.

Like most owls, barred owls are nocturnal. However, if you would see a large owl feeding during the day it would most likely be a barred owl. While birding, or sitting in Penn’s woods during the “deer season” on damp, dreary days, I have seen them move from perch to perch in the darker woodlands. They feed mostly on rodents and other small mammals. They are not the feared killer like the great horned owl. Horned owls will take prey about its size and by the way, eat other owl species as well. Barred owls will avoid nesting in the territory of great horned owls and the horned owls apparent increasing numbers are probably restricting the expansion of the barred owls.

Three other features distinguish these two species. Great horned owls almost always nest in abandoned or “stolen” hawk nests. Barred owls meanwhile often nest in tree cavities (they have been documented using man-made nest boxes) or snapped off tree trunks. They usually lay two or three eggs in spring while a great horned owl may be “on” her eggs the last week of January or early February. The last big difference is their calls. Great horned owls make a: Who — who — who, — who — who call. Surprisingly, the barred owl call is rather eerie. Their call is a “ Who cooks for you — who cooks for you-all” call, often increasing in volume and rapidity. I guarantee that once you actually hear a barred owl, you will never misidentify what owl makes such an unusual call. Go online to one of numerous sites to hear the barred owl calls.

Nature hints: Beginning the last few days of September and continuing until mid-October, look for loose flocks (10 to 50) of blue jays migrating through our region. They usually fly just above tree tops.

I have been asked about keeping the hummingbird feeders filled. I recorded a hummingbird last year on Oct. 1, and I still had activity at my feeder on Sept. 23 this year. I would keep them filled another week or two.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Great blue herons eat: A. fish, B. eels, C. frogs, D. snakes, E. all of these.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Gliding across summer ponds and streams are water striders, not water spiders.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.