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Monarch caterpillar

Find Bird Groups

Barred Owl
Strix varia

The Barred Owl seems to be profiting as a result of the increased forest cover in Massachusetts and has more than doubled its distribution in the state during the past three decades. It is fairly widespread as a breeder everywhere in the Bay State, except on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Conservation Status
No Action - Strong Increase

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Likely Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.59
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.56
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
-0.03
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
n/a
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
142
Atlas II Blocks
440
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
15
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
42
Percent change
257

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
4.5%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
16
Recent trend 2000-2010
5.3%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
1.7
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
-1.9
Significantly different than zero
no
Trend (1979-2008)
1.6
Significantly different than zero
no
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Forest, Forested Wetland, Urban and Suburban

Wintering

Forest, Forested Wetland

Climate Suitability Current and 2050