Definition & Meaning of "hoot owl"

What is a "hoot owl"?

A hoot owl is a medium-sized bird of prey found in North America. It is named for its distinctive call, which sounds like a series of hoots. Barred owls have dark eyes and a round head with no ear tufts. Their brown and white striped plumage provides excellent camouflage in wooded areas where they are known to roost during the day. Barred owls are carnivorous and hunt primarily at night, feeding on a variety of prey including rodents, birds, and amphibians. They are also known to eat fish and invertebrates. Barred owls are monogamous and typically mate for life. They nest in tree cavities or abandoned nests of other birds and have a clutch size of two to four eggs.