I was thrilled yesterday afternoon to spot this Barred Owl (Strix varia) as I was walking on a trail along the Colorado River in Bastrop, Texas, within walking distance of my friends’ house where I am staying. The owl appeared to be busy eating something when I first spotted it, as you can see in the second photo below, and may have been a little distracted.
I am not at all certain what was in owl’s mouth. Any ideas?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It might be a big, fat, green caterpillar. There are plenty of caterpillars around just now.
That was my initial thought, but it seemed big for a caterpillar. I have heard, though, that everything is bigger in Texas. 🙂
So beautiful!
Eating a tomato hornworm caterpillar.
Thanks, Anne, for identifying the owl’s prey to me.
Looks like it may be some kind of caterpillar similar to a hornworm. Great photos. Love barred owls.
Thanks, Ann. I thought it might be a caterpillar, but it seemed awfully big.
Awesome 👍
Thanks, Michael.
Welcome. My pleasure.
Might be a hickory horned devil (regal moth) caterpillar – those things are ENORMOUS.
I just shared with Julie Zickefoose, a naturalist I follow on IG (who has been writing about hickory horned devils recently, which is why my mind went to that caterpillar first) and she says it’s not one of them but likely a hornworm as some others suggested above: “The diagonal white slashes along the side and the prominent horn off the back tell me it’s a Sphinx, something like a tobacco or tomato hornworm.”
Thanks, Karen, of pursuing the issue. I am amazed at how specialized scientific can be in focusing on specific species.
Excellent, Mike! I have never seen an owl in the wild.
It’s a wonderful experience, Dan, especially when it is as unexpected as this encounter.
I’m sure that made your walk so much better 😂😂. Glad you found that one.
Thanks, Ted. Yeah, that sure did lift my spirits during the walk.