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Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Least Concern
体长
35.0 cm
翼展
90.0 cm
体重
350.0 g
Tytonidae
Strigiformes

Hunting voles and mice in total darkness by extraordinarily acute hearing, the Barn Owl is ghostly pale, its golden-buff upperparts finely mottled grey and its underparts and heart-shaped facial disc white, lending an almost luminous appearance in flight. It is the most widespread owl and among the most widespread of all land birds, occurring on every continent except Antarctica, and favours open farmland, grassland, and marshes. Nests in barns, church steeples, tree cavities, and nest boxes hold large clutches of two to sixteen eggs, incubated for 29 to 34 days; young fledge at 49 to 70 days. Its voice is not a hoot but an eerie, drawn-out rasping shriek, accompanied by hissing and bill-snapping when disturbed. It is assessed as Least Concern.

关于

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.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Body Length 35.0 cm 13.8 in
翼展 90.0 cm 35.4 in
体重 350.0 g 12.35 oz

识别

羽毛

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

Habitat & Range

Open farmland, grasslands, and marshes. Nests in barns, church steeples, tree cavities, and purpose-built nest boxes.

分布范围

The most widespread owl and one of the most widespread land birds, found on every continent except Antarctica.

Diet & Feeding

Almost exclusively small mammals, especially voles and mice. Hunts using extraordinary hearing to locate prey in total darkness.

保护状况

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

行为与繁殖

筑巢

Nest type: CV. Incubation: 29-34 days. Fledging: 49-70 days.

产卵数

2-16

声音

鸣唱

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.

分类学

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Strigiformes (Owls)
Tytonidae (Barn Owls)
Genus Tyto
物种 Tyto alba

Names in Other Languages

Language Name
German Schleiereule
Spanish Lechuza Común

Distribution

Barn Owl has been recorded in 11 countries.

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出现 Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

常见问题

What does the Barn Owl eat?
Almost exclusively small mammals, especially voles and mice. Hunts using extraordinary hearing to locate prey in total darkness.
Where does the Barn Owl live?
Open farmland, grasslands, and marshes. Nests in barns, church steeples, tree cavities, and purpose-built nest boxes.
Is the Barn Owl endangered?
The Barn Owl has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Barn Owl nest?
Nest type: CV. Incubation: 29-34 days. Fledging: 49-70 days.
What does the Barn Owl sound like?
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.
How big is the Barn Owl?
The Barn Owl has a body length of 35.0 cm, wingspan of 90.0 cm, weight of 350.0 g.
What order and family does the Barn Owl belong to?
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) belongs to the order Strigiformes and the family Tytonidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Tytonidae family

比较

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