Barn Owl

Least Concern

Tyto alba

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The Barn Owl, with its heart-shaped face and ghostly white feathers, silently hunts across fields and farmlands. They are one of the most widely distributed birds of prey in the world.

Visual Identification

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

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

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

White Brown

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Pale

Leg Colour

Grey

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

© 2025 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 90
Strength 60
Adaptability 85
Aggressiveness 65
Endurance 75

Diet

Barn Owls primarily feed on small mammals, particularly voles, mice, and shrews. They locate prey using their exceptional hearing and can catch up to 12 small mammals per night. Occasionally, they may also consume small birds, reptiles, and insects.

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.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 4 - years
Max Recorded Lifespan 34 years [1]
0
9
18
27
36

years

The Barn Owl typically lives for 4 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 34 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [2]

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

Global Population Trend

Stable[3]

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

Other names:

Common Barn Owl, Ghost Owl

Family:

Tytonidae

Predators

Adult Barn Owls have few natural predators, but Great Horned Owls, eagles, and large hawks may occasionally prey on them. Eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to raccoons, snakes, and feral cats.

Did You Know?

  1. Barn Owls can eat up to 1,000 mice per year, making them excellent natural pest controllers.
  2. Their heart-shaped face acts as a satellite dish, funnelling sound to their asymmetrically placed ears.
  3. One of the barn owl’s ears is higher than the other, which enables it to locate its prey more accurately.
  4. Barn Owls can locate prey by sound alone in complete darkness.
  5. The barn owl’s outer toes are reversible to give it a better grip on prey.

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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.

References

  1. 2 3

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Tyto alba (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22688504A155542941.

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  2. 1

    website, 2024: The Barn Owl Centre of Gloucestershire

    View source