There have been two sightings of a Barred Owl in the past couple of weeks. They look very similar to Spotted Owls. Allen Francis photographed this owl.
And Lita Gitt took this photo last week. Lita said the owl stayed perched there for fifteen minutes, while she even moved around and talked to it!
A Barred Owl's stomach markings are vertical, and a Spotted Owl's are horizontal. The Barred Owl's call is said to sound like, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all." You can see if you agree by listening here at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds
Thanks to Allen and Lita for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Suzanne
I think Barred Owls are not friends of Spotted Owls and chase them out of their territory. Spotted Owls are becoming more sparse due to Barred Owl intrusion. Barred Owls are aggressive.
Tim
Rapid evolutionary change, right in our backyard.
Donna Martinez
Should be interesting to see how many are noted in the Christmas Audubon Bird Count