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Are There Barred Owls in New Jersey?

Barred owls are common year-round residents throughout New Jersey. These forest owls thrive in the state's diverse woodlands, from coastal Atlantic forests to inland hardwood stands. Active hunters throughout the night, barred owls are one of New Jersey's most distinctive owl species. Their loud, laughing call echoes through forests statewide, making them recognizable to many residents.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 21, 2026.

Barred Owl photographed in New Jersey

Barred Owl · Bernie Paquette CC BY

Barred Owl photographed in New Jersey

Barred Owl · pberk CC BY-ND

Barred Owl photographed in New Jersey

Barred Owl · Jaime McGuigan CC BY

Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Found in New Jersey
11,063
GBIF records
6
birding hotspots

Yes, barred owls are in New Jersey. Next you'll want:

Barred owls are common year-round residents throughout New Jersey. These forest owls thrive in the state's diverse woodlands, from coastal Atlantic forests to inland hardwood stands. Active hunters throughout the night, barred owls are one of New Jersey's most distinctive owl species. Their loud, laughing call echoes through forests statewide, making them recognizable to many residents.

Where in New Jersey the Barred Owl is Found

Barred owls inhabit forests throughout New Jersey, from the state's western highlands to its eastern coastal plain. They occupy the mixed forests of the northern regions, including areas around the Kittatinny Mountains. The central woodlands and extensive forests of the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey support useful barred owl populations. They are found along forested stream corridors including the Delaware River valley and throughout the state's remaining mature woodlands. Barred owls prefer areas with significant canopy coverage and dense understory vegetation. They have adapted well to suburban and semi-urban areas where forest patches remain. Visit/wildlife/new-jerseyto learn about other state wildlife. Seethe Barred Owl guide for New Jerseyfor more.

Season and Timing

Barred owls are present year-round throughout New Jersey. Unlike migratory owl species, barred owls remain in their territories during all seasons. They are most vocally active during late fall and winter months when establishing breeding territories and reaffirming pair bonds. February and March bring intense calling activity as owls compete for nesting sites and mates. Spring and summer involve quieter months as breeding pairs focus on raising young in tree cavities. Barred owls can be heard calling during almost any night of the year in appropriate forest habitat, though late fall through early spring offers the best opportunities to hear their distinctive loud calls in New Jersey. Seethe New Jersey wildlife guidefor more.

How to Identify a Barred Owl

Barred owls are large forest owls, typically sixteen to twenty-five inches in length, with stocky bodies and rounded heads lacking ear tufts. Their plumage is predominantly brown and gray with heavy horizontal barring across the breast and belly and vertical streaking on the flanks. The facial disk is nearly circular with distinctive large dark eyes facing forward, unlike the yellow eyes of great horned owls. Barred owls often appear quite dark in low light. Their call is unmistakable: a loud series of hoots sounding like 'who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all,' often rendered as wild laughter or cackling. Females are noticeably larger than males of the same population.

Where Sightings Concentrate in New Jersey

Barred owls are widely distributed across New Jersey but are most consistently found in extensive forest tracts. The extensive forests of the Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey represent a concentration area for barred owls. Forested corridors along the Delaware River support good populations. The Wharton State Forest, Bass River State Forest, and other protected forest areas host healthy barred owl communities. In northern New Jersey, the High Point State Park area and surrounding forests are productive barred owl habitat. Evening and night birding trips to/wildlife/new-jersey/barred-owllocations should focus on forest edges and wetland margins where calls carry well through the air.

Typical Behavior

Barred owls are strictly nocturnal, hunting throughout the night and remaining hidden during daylight hours in dense forest. They hunt by sitting quietly on low perches and swooping silently down to capture prey. Their diet consists primarily of small mammals, particularly mice, voles, shrews, and rats. They also hunt birds, insects, crayfish, and amphibians depending on seasonal availability. Barred owls are relatively sedentary birds, establishing territories that they occupy for many years. They are exceptional among owl species for their vocal nature, calling frequently and loudly from dusk through dawn. Pairs often engage in duetting, with female and male calls overlapping and responding to one another.

Coexistence and Safety Notes

Barred owls are fully protected under federal migratory bird laws and pose no threat to humans. These owls avoid people entirely and remain active during nighttime when human encounters are unlikely. Very occasionally, a barred owl might collide with a window at night, attracted by indoor lights reflecting insects, but such incidents are uncommon. Barred owls do not attack humans and show no aggression toward people. If you hear a barred owl calling near your home, it indicates healthy forest habitat nearby. Supporting forest conservation and maintaining older trees with cavities and dense understory vegetation benefits barred owls and many other species. Consult/wildlifefor wildlife-friendly habitat practices.

Common Species People Confuse with Barred Owl

In New Jersey, barred owls might be confused with great horned owls, though great horned owls have prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes, while barred owls lack ear tufts and have dark eyes. Long-eared owls are smaller and have vertical streaking rather than horizontal barring. Short-eared owls, found in open grasslands, are lighter and have yellow eyes. Saw-whet owls are much smaller and rarely heard in built-up areas. The barred owl's large size, dark eyes, rounded head, and distinctive barring pattern, combined with its unmistakable laughing call, make it relatively easy to identify once you become familiar with the species and its vocalizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do barred owls call so much at night in New Jersey? A: Barred owls are highly vocal birds that use loud calls to establish and maintain territories, and to communicate with mates, especially during fall and winter breeding season preparations. Q: Are barred owls dangerous to pets? A: Barred owls occasionally hunt small outdoor pets, though this is uncommon. Keep cats and small dogs indoors at night to minimize risk. Q: Where is the best place to hear barred owls in New Jersey? A: Evening and night visits to forested areas, particularly the Pine Barrens and Delaware River valley forests, offer good opportunities to hear barred owls. Q: What should I do if I find an injured barred owl? A: Contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife immediately for guidance and proper care.

Plan your barred owl sighting in New Jersey

11,063 verified barred owl records have been logged in New Jersey, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.

Where to look in New Jersey

Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).

Recent barred owl sightings

  • Great Swamp NWR--Pleasant Plains Rd. · 2026-07-20 18:05 · 1 seen
  • Black River Wildlife Management Area Trail, Chester, New Jersey, US (40.802, -74.696) · 2026-07-20 17:32 · 1 seen
  • Great Swamp NWR--Wildlife Observation Center · 2026-07-20 14:00 · 1 seen
  • Home · 2026-07-18 21:50 · 1 seen
  • Great Swamp NWR--White Oak Trail · 2026-07-17 18:58 · 2 seen

Planning a trip to see barred owl? Find places to stay near Appalachian National Scenic Trail on Booking.com.