Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Barn Owl is a medium-sized owl with a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc, long legs, and a rounded head without ear tufts. Its upperparts are golden-brown with fine black and white speckles, while the underparts are typically white or pale buff.
Males are generally paler than females, often appearing almost white in flight. Females are larger and have darker, more heavily spotted underparts. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a buff-coloured breast band that fades with age.
Size
Length
33cm to 39cm
Wingspan
80cm to 95cm
Weight
430g to 620g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Barn Owls inhabit many open habitats, including farmland, grasslands, marshes, and forest edges. They are often associated with human structures, nesting in barns, church towers, and old buildings.
Found on every continent except Antarctica, Barn Owls are year-round residents in most of their range. They are common in the UK, USA, Australia, and parts of Canada, adapting well to rural and suburban environments.
Elevation Range
Up to 4,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Barn Owl. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Barn Owl's exceptional agility is evident in its silent, precise flight and ability to manoeuvre through complex environments. Its 'moth-like' flight pattern and aerial acrobatics during courtship displays further demonstrate its remarkable agility.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Whilst not exceptionally strong compared to larger birds of prey, the Barn Owl possesses sufficient strength to capture and carry small mammals, its primary prey. Its ability to fly whilst carrying prey indicates moderate strength for its size.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Barn Owls exhibit high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats across multiple continents and climate zones. Their ability to nest in both natural cavities and man-made structures, coupled with their success in rural and suburban environments, showcases their adaptable nature.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Barn Owls are not typically aggressive towards humans but can be fierce hunters. They display aggression when defending their nests and during hunting. However, they are generally less aggressive than some other owl species, preferring to avoid confrontation when possible.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The Barn Owl's ability to hunt for extended periods at night, potentially catching up to 12 small mammals in a single night, indicates good endurance. Their capacity for long-distance silent flight and the energy required for their hunting technique suggest above-average endurance for their size.
Diet
Behaviour
Barn Owls are strictly nocturnal, emerging at dusk to hunt. They fly silently, using their exceptional hearing to locate prey in complete darkness.
These owls are typically solitary but may form monogamous pairs that last for life, engaging in elaborate courtship displays involving aerial acrobatics and vocalisations.
Vocalisation
Barn Owls don't hoot like other owls. Instead, they produce a distinctive, eerie screech that can last for several seconds. This harsh 'shreeee' sound is often described as sounding like a scream.
They also make hissing and clicking noises, especially when threatened or during courtship.
Nesting & Breeding
Barn Owls typically breed once a year, though multiple broods are possible in areas with abundant food. Courtship begins with aerial displays and gift-giving, where males present prey to females.
Nests are simple scrapes in a sheltered location, often in tree cavities, cliff crevices, or man-made structures. Females lay 4-7 white eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days.
Chicks hatch asynchronously and fledge after 50-55 days. Parents continue to feed and teach fledglings hunting skills for several weeks after they leave the nest.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While globally listed as Least Concern, Barn Owl populations face threats from habitat loss, rodenticide use, and vehicle collisions.
Conservation efforts focus on providing nesting boxes, preserving grasslands, and reducing pesticide use in agricultural areas.
Population Data
Global Population Estimate
4,000,000 - 9,999,999 mature individuals
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Barn Owls at dusk or dawn near open fields, farmlands, or abandoned buildings.
- Listen for their distinctive screeching call, unlike the hooting of other owls.
- Watch for their characteristic 'moth-like' flight pattern with slow wingbeats.
- In the UK and USA, check local barn owl conservation projects for guided viewing opportunities.
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Did You Know?
- Barn Owls can eat up to 1,000 mice per year, making them excellent natural pest controllers.
- Their heart-shaped face acts as a satellite dish, funnelling sound to their asymmetrically placed ears.
- One of the barn owl’s ears is higher than the other, which enables it to locate its prey more accurately.
- Barn Owls can locate prey by sound alone in complete darkness.
- The barn owl’s outer toes are reversible to give it a better grip on prey.
FAQs
Why do Barn Owls sit on posts?
Barn Owls regularly perch on fence posts in farming areas since low crops provide ideal hunting habitat. Perching on these posts allow them to look patiently out over the area for any prey.
They rarely sit on the ground. These birds prefer to hunt from the wing or a stable perch.
How fast can Barn Owls fly?
Barn Owls can reach speeds of about 20 miles per hour (32 km/h). They are relatively slow-flying birds, which is a great advantage for their hunting style. By flying at just a few miles per hour, these birds have the time to look and listen for their prey on the ground below.
Why is a Barn Owl not a true owl?
Owls are classified into two families - the true owls (Strigidae) and the barn owls (Tytonidae). The most obvious difference between the two is their face shape (heart-shaped vs. round), although there are other differences in bill shape and eye size.
Are Barn Owls good to have around?
Barn Owls are great birds to have around. These beautiful creatures are exciting to watch, and their ability to control pests makes them welcome wherever people live. You can encourage these birds by erecting a nest box.
You can buy a ready-made nest box or build your own by following a plan like this one from the Barn Owl Trust.
Why do farmers have Barn Owls?
Barn Owls are popular among farmers because they control rodent populations. Rodents are often major pests in agricultural areas because they eat food provided for livestock, damage young crops, and cause damage to infrastructure.
Similar Birds
References
- 1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Tyto alba (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22688504A155542941.
View source - 3
website, 2024: The Barn Owl Centre of Gloucestershire
View source
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