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
But perhaps the most popular destination in the park is the Hoh Rain Forest—one of four rainforests in the state—a mossy, temperate ecosystem home to Sitka spruce, black bears, river otters, and the endangered northern spotted owl.
—
Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 11 June 2025
Preserving old-growth forest for a single owl species (to give a classic example) means the forest—and everything living there—suddenly loses protection if that owl goes extinct anyway (as the northern spotted owl very well could).
—Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
The northern spotted owl, native to the West Coast region, has been endangered since 1990.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
More news: Climate change among factors imperiling northern spotted owls' survival
What is the Barred Owl Management Strategy?
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
Rare and vulnerable species native to the region include the Cascades frog, the long-toed salamander, the northern spotted owl and the sugarstick, a parasitic plant associated with the roots of old-growth conifers.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
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
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.
Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 11 June 2025
Preserving old-growth forest for a single owl species (to give a classic example) means the forest—and everything living there—suddenly loses protection if that owl goes extinct anyway (as the northern spotted owl very well could).
—Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
The northern spotted owl, native to the West Coast region, has been endangered since 1990.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
More news: Climate change among factors imperiling northern spotted owls' survival
What is the Barred Owl Management Strategy?
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
Rare and vulnerable species native to the region include the Cascades frog, the long-toed salamander, the northern spotted owl and the sugarstick, a parasitic plant associated with the roots of old-growth conifers.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Northern spotted owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northern%20spotted%20owl. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share