Barn Owl
NameBarn Owl
Common NameBarn Owl
Scientific NameTyto alba
FamilyTytonidae
Wingspan (cm)87.5
Length (cm)36
Weight (g)450
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are golden-buff and grey, finely mottled with dark spots. Underparts are pure white to buff, sometimes speckled with small dark spots. The facial disc is prominent and heart-shaped, typically white, framing dark eyes.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its distinctive, drawn-out, hissing screech, often described as an eerie 'shreeee'. It also produces various hisses, snores, and clicks, but does not hoot.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsopen country, grassland, farmland, marshes, deserts, suburban areas, human structures
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeNearly cosmopolitan, found on all continents except Antarctica. Widespread across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas, inhabiting temperate and tropical regions.
Identifying Featuresheart-shaped white facial disc, pale underparts, golden-buff and grey mottled upperparts, dark eyes, silent flight, screeching call, long legs
Description
The Barn Owl is a medium-sized, pale owl with a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc. It is primarily nocturnal, hunting small mammals with exceptional hearing and silent flight. This species is known for its wide distribution and preference for open country and human structures for nesting.
