Barn Owl vs Common Starling
Tyto alba comparé à Sturnus vulgaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Barn Owl | Common Starling |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Tyto alba | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Ordre | Strigiformes | Passeriformes |
| Famille | Tytonidae | Sturnidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 35,0 cm (13.8 in) | 21,5 cm (8.5 in) |
| Envergure | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 37,0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 350,0 g (12.35 oz) | 78,0 g (2.75 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Almost exclusively small mammals, especially voles and mice. Hunts using extraordinary hearing to locate prey … | Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-16 | 4-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Barn Owl only
Common Starling only
Aucun(e)
Barn Owl
Open farmland, grasslands, and marshes. Nests in barns, church steeples, tree cavities, and purpose-built nest boxes.
Common Starling
Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.
Song & Call Comparison
Barn Owl
An eerie, drawn-out rasping shriek 'shreeeeee' — not a hoot. Also gives hissing, snoring, and bill-snapping when disturbed. Chicks call with a persistent rasping hunger call.
Common Starling
A complex mimic: rattles, whistles, clicks, and squeaks mixed with imitations of other birds. Song is a continuous medley. Also gives harsh 'scheer' alarm and chattering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Owl
The most widespread owl and one of the most widespread land birds, found on every continent except Antarctica.
Common Starling
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Barn Owl
Common Starling
How to Tell Them Apart
Barn Owl
Pale golden-buff upperparts with delicate grey mottling. Pure white heart-shaped face and white to pale buff underparts. Ghostly white appearance in flight.
Pale pinkish hooked bill nearly concealed by the facial disc
Common Starling
Glossy black plumage with iridescent purple and green sheen in breeding season. Winter plumage shows white spotting. Short tail and pointed wings in flight.
Long, pointed bill — yellow in breeding season, dark in winter
About These Birds
Barn Owl
The barn owl has the most asymmetrical ears of any owl, giving it the finest auditory localization ability in the animal kingdom. It can catch prey in complete darkness using sound alone. The barn owl's distinctive heart-shaped face acts as a parabolic dish, funneling sound to its offset ears.
Common Starling
The common starling is famous for its murmurations — vast swirling flocks of thousands that create mesmerizing patterns in winter skies. An accomplished mimic, it can imitate other birds, car alarms, and phone ringtones. Introduced to North America by a group intent on establishing every bird mentioned by Shakespeare.