Barred Owl in March
Where barred owls are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Barred Owl's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Barred Owl specifically, March is a spring month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 45 states and provinces where barred owls occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where barred owls are in March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, barred owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in March
March is inside the Barred Owl nesting season. Nest: natural tree cavity or old hawk nest; accepts large nest boxes. Clutch 1–5 eggs, incubation 28–33 days, 1 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in March
- Mice, voles and roosting small birds
A woodland owl that hunts suburban yards with mature trees; often heard — and sometimes seen — at dusk.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Full Barred Owl diet guide → · Best feeder for barred owls →
Watching barred owls this month
In March, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
If you have a Barred Owl box up, watch from a distance for comings and goings — steady traffic means an active nest — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Barred Owl month by month
Barred Owl by state
Frequently asked
Where are barred owls in March?
In March, barred owls are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do barred owls nest in March?
Yes — March falls inside the Barred Owl nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do barred owls eat in March?
Mice, voles and roosting small birds.
Sources
- Barred Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barred Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barred Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.