Barred owls (Strix varia) are an invasive species that have rapidly expanded from their native range in the eastern U.S. into the Pacific Northwest, threatening native wildlife populations including the threatened northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). Understanding occupancy dynamics of barred owls is increasingly important to manage the negative impacts of invasive barred owls on spotted owls. Our study aimed to identify the key drivers of barred owl settlement patterns in northern California using 2 approaches - regression models of spatial barred owl removal data and 2-species robust design occupancy models on 30 years of barred and spotted owl occupancy data in northern California. We analyzed data on vegetation, topography, and biological factors to identify factors associated with areas of high colonization by barred owls. We found that barred owls within a landscape historically occupied by northern spotted owls are associated with wetter areas of larger trees and less open forest, with old conifer and hardwood trees, tree size, and wetness as the primary drivers of barred owl settlement patterns. Our study provides valuable insights that can help inform management strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of this invasive species on native wildlife.