Spotted Owl

Spotted Owl is similar in size and general appearance to Barred Owl, but has a much more limited range. There are three subspecies – northern, Mexican, and California, the former two being listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered. The Northern Spotted Owl gained attention in the 1980’s when its existence became threatened by logging interests encroaching on its habitat. In the US southwest, 8.6 million acres are currently designated as critical habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl, but the fate of the Northern Spotted Owl remains in limbo.