Barn owl  (Tyto alba)

IUCN Red List species status – Least Concern
Loading loading

Facts – Barn owl

French: Chouette effraie
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderStrigiformes
FamilyTytonidae
GenusTyto (1)
SizeWingspan: 80-95 cm (2)
Length: 33-39 cm (2)

Status – Barn owl

The barn owl is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1). Specially protected under Schedules 1 and 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (3). Listed as a Species of Conservation Concern by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, but not a priority species (4). Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List (medium conservation concern) (5).

Description – Barn owl

Ethereal and ghost-like, the barn owl (Tyto alba) has golden-grey coloured upperparts, and pure white underparts (6). The heart-shaped facial disc is pale, and the large eyes are black (2). It flies silently and slowly, often with the feet dangling (2). A number of vocalisations are produced, including an eerie drawn-out shriek (6).

Range – Barn owl

The barn owl is widespread throughout Britain, but is scarce or absent from the Highlands and the islands of Scotland (6). It is one of the most wide-ranging birds in the world, known from most of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia (7).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat – Barn owl

Occurs in farmland with hedgerows and copses, uncultivated areas such as heaths and marshes, sometimes large gardens, and occasionally in villages close to fields (8). It typically nests in tree holes, ruined buildings and farm buildings, hence the association with barns reflected by the common name (2).

Biology – Barn owl

The barn owl feeds on small rodents, especially voles and mice (8), and on frogs and insects (2), which it locates using its excellent sense of hearing (9). It is usually active in the evening, early morning or at night (8), but in times of hard frost or snowfall, individuals may be forced to hunt for longer periods, and may be seen in the day (10).

The unlined nest is made in hollow trees or in old buildings. In April or May, between four and six white eggs are laid. These are incubated solely by the female, who is fed by the male during this time (6). Incubation starts after the first egg is laid, so they hatch at intervals (8), 32 to 34 days after being laid (6). The young therefore vary widely in age and size (8), and spend a very long time in the nest, between 64 to 86 days (6).

Threats – Barn owl

From the middle of the 19th century, the beautiful barn owl began to decline in Britain. The original decline is thought to have been the result of an increase in persecution. The decline continued as a result of agricultural intensification, poor winter weather, traffic deaths, pesticide use and a loss of hunting and nesting sites (11).

Conservation – Barn owl

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, it is illegal to kill, injure or take a barn owl or to remove or damage eggs. The Barn Owl Conservation Network (BOCN), a project of the Hawk and Owl Trust, is promoting a habitat creation scheme, with the provision of nest boxes to help this species (9).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Find out more – Barn owl

For more on the conservation of barn owls, and details of how you can help:

For more information on the barn owl and other bird species:

Authentication

Information authenticated by the RSPB:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/

Glossary

  • Incubate: to keep eggs warm so that development is possible.
  • Incubation: the act of incubating eggs, that is, keeping them warm so that development is possible.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (May, 2011)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/
  2. Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterstrom, D., & Grant, P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London.
  3. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (November 2002):
    http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/licensing/pdf/protected_species_part_i.pdf
  4. BTO- Breeding Birds of the Wider Countryside: Barn Owl. (November 2002):
    http://www.bto.org/birdtrends/
  5. RSPB (2003) The population status of birds in the UK:
    http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/5_20625.pdf
  6. Gooders, J. (1982) Collins British Birds. William Collins Sons and Co Ltd, London.
  7. Walters, M. (1994) Eyewitness Handbooks: Birds Eggs. Dorling Kindersley, London.
  8. RSPB (2003): Pers. comm.
  9. Barn Owl Conservation Network (November 2002):
    http://www.bocn.org/default.asp
  10. Lack, P. (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd, Calton.
  11. Balmer, D.E. Adams, S.Y. and Crick, H.Q.P. (2000) Report on Barn Owl Release Scheme: Monitoring Project Phase II. BTO Research Report No. 250.
    http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/barnowls.pdf
More

Related species

More

Related species by status

No related species found
More

Related species by group

Loading...
More

Related species by geography

More

Related species by habitat

What's new?

Avocets feeding

New videos of the Avocet. More

Latest from the ARKive blogsubscribe to posts

Loading...
ARKive.org is the place for films, photos and facts about endangered species. Subscribe to our blog today to keep up to date!

To see the latest posts from ARKive please visit http://blog.arkive.org or enable javascript.

Image credit

Male barn owl perched
Male barn owl perched

© Martin B Withers / www.flpa-images.co.uk

FLPA - images of nature
Pages Green House
Wetheringsett
Stowmarket
Suffolk IP14 5QA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1728 861 113
Fax: +44 (0) 1728 860 222
pictures@flpa-images.co.uk
http://www.flpa-images.co.uk

Link to this photo

ARKive species - Barn owl (Tyto alba) Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. Portlets may NOT be used within Apps.

MyARKive

MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.

Listen to the Barn owl

Male barn owl perched
Adobe Flash is required to play this recording

Barn owl recordings by Geoffrey A. Keller and Gerrit Vyn

© Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Macaulay Library
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca
New York 14850
United States of America
Tel: +1 (607) 254-2404
Fax: +1 (607) 254-2439
Email: macaulaylibrary@cornell.edu
Website: www.birds.cornell.edu/MacaulayLibrary