Open farmland, grasslands, and marshes. Nests in barns, church steeples, tree cavities, and purpose-built nest boxes.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Barn Owl
गीत
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.
African Grass-owl
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Owl
The most widespread owl and one of the most widespread land birds, found on every continent except Antarctica.
African Grass-owl
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Conservation Status Comparison
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संरक्षण स्थिति
Least Concern
Barn Owl
Least Concern
African Grass-owl
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Barn Owl
पंख
Pale golden-buff upperparts with delicate grey mottling. Pure white heart-shaped face and white to pale buff underparts. Ghostly white appearance in flight.
चोंच
Pale pinkish hooked bill nearly concealed by the facial disc
African Grass-owl
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
The African Grass-owl weighs about 431g and inhabits tall grasslands and marshes of sub-Saharan Africa. Its heart-shaped facial disc funnels sound for highly accurate nocturnal hunting of rodents.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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