Barn Owl

"Tyto alba"

Ghostly pale and normally strictly nocturnal, Barn Owls are silent predators of the night world. Lanky, with a whitish face, chest, and belly, and buffy upperparts, this owl roosts in hidden, quiet places during the day. By night, they hunt on buoyant wingbeats in open fields and meadows.

You can find them by listening for their eerie, raspy calls, quite unlike the hoots of other owls. Despite a worldwide distribution, Barn Owls are declining in parts of their range due to habitat loss.

Here are some cool facts about Barn Owls:

Barn Owls swallow their prey whole—skin, bones, and all.
Up to 46 different races of the Barn Owl have been described worldwide.
Barn Owl females are somewhat showier than males. She has a more reddish and more heavily spotted chest.
The Barn Owl has excellent low-light vision, and can easily find prey at night by sight.

Click here to learn more about this beautiful bird.

to join the community!

Created by Raquel Canhoto