northern spotted owl

noun

: a rare spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) of old forests on the Pacific coast of North America from northern California to southern British Columbia

Examples of northern spotted owl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Described as the top threat to the northern spotted owl’s survival, they are considered an emerging threat to the California spotted owl. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024 Barred owls are bigger and more aggressive than northern spotted owls. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 7 Dec. 2023 In just the past 20 years, northern spotted owl populations have declined between 35 to 80 percent. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 7 Dec. 2023 The northern spotted owl’s listing as threatened in 1990 sparked years of feuding between conservationists and the timber industry over the management of Pacific Northwest forestland. John Flesher, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2023 The northern spotted owl’s listing as threatened in 1990 sparked years of feuding between conservationists and the timber industry in the Pacific Northwest. John Flesher, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023 The league purchased the land two years ago for $3.5 million funded by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to provide habitat for endangered northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet to mitigate other environmental damage by the utility. Brian Melley, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northern spotted owl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of northern spotted owl was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near northern spotted owl

Cite this Entry

“Northern spotted owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northern%20spotted%20owl. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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