Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Northern Spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The northern spotted owl is a medium-sized, dark brown owl with a barred tail, white spots on the head and breast, and dark brown eyes surrounded by prominent facial disks. Males and females have similar plumage, but females typically weigh 10 to 20 percent more than males.

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)
Date Listed: Jun 26, 1990

  • States/US Territories in which the Northern Spotted owl is known to occur:  California , Oregon , Washington
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Northern Spotted owl is known to occur:  CAPE MEARES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • Countries in which the the Northern Spotted owl is known to occur:  Canada

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 36 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
07/21/2009 74 FR 35883 35885 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit Application, Northern Spotted Owl, Oregon
12/17/2008 73 FR 76680 76682 Receipt of Application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Northern Spotted Owl and the Marbled Murrelet
08/22/2008 73 FR 49647 49648 Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Habitat Conservation Plan, and Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits
08/13/2008 73 FR 47325 47522 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl; Final Rule
09/05/2007 72 FR 50929 50930 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus, Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
05/10/1996 61 FR 21426 21430 ETWP; Proposed Special Rule for the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl on Non-Federal Lands
02/17/1995 60 FR 9483 9527 ETWP; Proposed Special Rule for the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl on Non-Federal Lands

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/13/2008 Final Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
06/14/2007 72 FR 32857 32858 Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 04/26/2007 72 FR 20865 20866 Draft Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • 04/21/2003 68 FR 19569 19571 5-Year Review of the Marbled Murrelet and the Northern Spotted Owl
  • Notice 5-year Review
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    11/15/2004 Northern Spotted Owl 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    08/13/2008 73 FR 47325 47522 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl; Final Rule Final Rule Active
    06/12/2007 72 FR 32449 32516 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina); Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Not Required
    01/15/1992 57 FR 1796 1838 ETWP; Determination of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Final Rule Not Required
    11/12/1991 56 FR 57503 (Correction) ETWP; Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Strix occidentalis caurina (Northern Spotted Owl); 56 FR 57503 Proposed Rule Not Required
    10/08/1991 56 FR 50701 50704 ETWP; Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Strix occidentalis caurina (Northern Spotted Owl); 56 FR 50701 50704 Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 17 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Boise Cascade Low-effect HCP for the Northern Spotted Owl (transferred to Boise Central Washington Land & Timber , LLC. Permit was subsequently transferred to Western Pacific Timberlands, LLC.)
    Cedar River Watershed HCP
    City of Tacoma, Tacoma Water HCP
    City of the Dalles Municipal Watershed
    Coast Range Conifers
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 3 of 3 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Forster-Gill, Inc.
    Port Blakely (Morton Block) SHA
    Tagshinny Tree Farm

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 4 of 4 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    02/03/2000 65 FR 5298 5300 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist the Northern Spotted Owl From the List of Threatened and Endangered Species
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 08/31/1994 59 FR 44958 44959 ETWP; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Remove the Northern Spotted Owl in California From the List of Threathened and Endangered Species
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 12/23/1987 52 FR 48552 48554 Finding on Northern Spotted Owl Petition; 52 FR 48552-48554
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
    • 09/11/1987 52 FR 34396 34397 90-Day Petition Finding & Initiation of Status Review; Northern Spotted Owl; 52 FR 34396-34397
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009