Field Marks: 21 in. A large owl without ear tufts; very vocal, with a familiar hoot. Found in wooded swamps of the North and South, as well as in other forested areas. Feeds mainly at night, taking crayfish, frogs, and small rodents. Range in West is expanding. Adults primarily gray and brown, with white bars and edgings above, underparts buff with black vertical streaks; face gray-brown; collar barred horizontally, contrasting with streaked breast. Eyes brown. Some individuals may be very pale. Typical call a nine-noted hoot: "Who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all?"
Range: E. British Columbia and the northwestern states across s. Canada, south through e. United States to Gulf Coast.