Species Profile
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Common Barn Owl, Ghost Owl, Western Barn Owl
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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.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- White
- Secondary
- Grey
- Beak
- Pale
- Legs
- Grey
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Pale
- Legs
- Grey
Female Markings
Darker overall, with more prominent spots on chest and belly
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & 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.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
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.
Calls & Sounds
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
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.
Elevation
Up to 4,000 meters
Additional Details
- 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.
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.
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.
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