Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Quick answer
The barn owl is a pale, heart-faced bird of prey and one of the most widespread birds on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. It hunts almost silently at night, using extraordinary hearing to pinpoint mice and voles in total darkness. Wild barn owls typically live around 4 years.
Barn Owl facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Tyto alba |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Open countryside, farmland, and grassland |
| Lifespan | About 4 years in the wild |
| Weight | 250–500 g (9–18 oz) |
| Top speed | Around 50 km/h (30 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Tytonidae |
| Genus | Tyto |
Where it lives
Found on every continent except Antarctica, one of the most widespread of all birds.
Silent flight
Barn owls fly almost without a sound. The soft, comb-like leading edge of their feathers breaks up the air and muffles the noise of their wingbeats, so they can approach prey unheard and listen for the faintest rustle below as they hunt.
Extraordinary hearing
The barn owl's heart-shaped facial disc funnels sound to its ears, which sit at slightly different heights on the head. This lets the owl pinpoint prey in three dimensions and strike accurately in total darkness, guided by hearing alone.
Diet and range
Barn owls feed mainly on small mammals such as mice, voles, and shrews, swallowing them whole and later coughing up the bones and fur as pellets. Found on every continent except Antarctica, they are among the most widely distributed of all land birds and a valuable natural form of rodent control.
Conservation
Globally the barn owl is listed as Least Concern, but local populations can suffer from loss of rough grassland hunting grounds, rodenticides, and collisions with vehicles. Nest boxes on farms and barns have helped numbers recover in many areas.
Frequently asked questions about the Barn Owl
Why are barn owls silent in flight?
Barn owls have specially structured feathers with a soft, fringed edge that breaks up turbulent air and absorbs sound. This near-silent flight lets them sneak up on prey and hear the slightest movement below.
What do barn owls eat?
Barn owls eat mostly small mammals such as mice, voles, and shrews. They swallow prey whole and regurgitate the indigestible bones and fur as compact pellets.
Can barn owls really hunt in the dark?
Yes. A barn owl's heart-shaped face channels sound to ears set at different heights, allowing it to locate and catch prey in complete darkness using hearing alone.
Where do barn owls live?
Barn owls are found on every continent except Antarctica, making them one of the most widespread birds in the world. They favor open habitats such as farmland, grassland, and marshes.
How long do barn owls live?
In the wild, barn owls average around 4 years, though many die in their first year. In captivity, with no predators or food shortages, they can live 15 to 20 years.
