Barred owl

Description:

Large owl with black, forward-facing eyes, vertical black bars on white chest, no ears, yellow beak.

Habitat:

Mixed old growth forest of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, Western hemlock, vine maple, and red alder.

Notes:

First one I've ever seen, though I've heard them at night. It's very similar to the rare spotted owl which is also resident here, but the spotted owl's chest stripes go horizontally. They are reportedly moving west, a process which seems to be natural rather than because of a deliberate introduction of them.