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Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Least Concern
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.
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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

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

White Brown

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Pale

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Pale

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Barn Owl can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Barn Owl can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Barn Owl can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Barn Owl is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Austria Bahrain Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Honduras Hungary Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Mali Martinique Mauritania Mexico Moldova Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Oman Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sudan Suriname Switzerland Syria Tanzania The Bahamas The United Kingdom Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Venezuela Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Albania Australia Bangladesh Bermuda Bosnia and Herzegovina Cambodia China Georgia India Indonesia Israel Jamaica Laos Malaysia Malta Monaco Montenegro Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Papua New Guinea Poland Russia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Serbia Singapore Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Sweden Thailand Tonga United States of America Uruguay Vietnam Western Sahara
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Estonia Finland New Zealand Norway Seychelles Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird 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.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 90

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 60

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 85

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 65

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 75

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

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.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

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

[2]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

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

Average Lifespan

4 years

Max Lifespan

34 years [3]

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.

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. 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
  2. 3

    website, 2024: The Barn Owl Centre of Gloucestershire

    View source

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