I have seen a much larger barred owl in the same wooded area over a month or two ago. This one is definitely a male based on size alone. The pair go their separate ways outside of the breeding season (not sure there is actually a pair there and may just be a winter roosting area) and pair up again before nesting. I followed a family of barred owls over two seasons and the earliest I have seen the female sitting on a nest is early April.