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 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
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 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share