spotted owl

noun

: a rare large dark brown dark-eyed owl (Strix occidentalis) that has barred and spotted underparts and is found in humid old growth forests and thickly wooded canyons from British Columbia to southern California and central Mexico
especially : northern spotted owl

Examples of spotted owl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The birds are outcompeting native spotted owls, putting them at risk of extinction. Byscience News Staff, science.org, 11 July 2024 The letter against the proposal suggested USFWS should prioritize non-lethal methods to support spotted owls. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024 But only spotted owls are native to the Pacific Northwest. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024 Their larger size, more generalist nature and faster reproduction rate have primed them to outcompete spotted owls. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spotted owl 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spotted owl was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near spotted owl

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

spotted owl

noun
: a rare dark brown owl with white spots above and dark stripes below that is found from British Columbia to southern California and central Mexico

More from Merriam-Webster on spotted owl

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!