Barn Owl: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

All Topics

Barn Owl

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

	Barn Owl
	Home Discussion Definition
	Topics Barn Owl Topic Home The Barn Owl (*Tyto alba) is the most widely distributedCosmopolitan distribution A cosmopolitan distribution* is a term applied to a biological category of living things meaning that this category can be ... species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn owl familyFamily (biology) In biological classification, family is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank.... TytonidaeTytonidae Barn-owls are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the typical owls, Strigidae.... , any of which may be called a barn owl. Tytonidae is one of the two groups of owls, the other being the typical owlTypical owl Typical owls are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls.... s Strigidae. Description The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a squarish tail. Tail shape is a way of distinguishing the Barn Owl from owls of the Strigidae family. 33–39 cm in length with an 80–95 cm wingspan. Its head and upperparts are buff, and the underparts are white. The face is heart-shaped. In the US it is sometimes called a Screech Owl because of its notable shree scream, ear-shattering at close range — although this common name is more often reserved for the genus megascopsScreech-owl Summary Screech-owls ? sometimes written screech owls, especially outside North America ? are typical owls belonging to the ge... . It can hiss like a snake, and when captured or cornered, it throws itself on its back and flails with sharp-taloned feet, an effective defence. Contrary to popular belief, it does not make the call "tu-whit to-whoo" (which is made by the Tawny OwlTawny Owl The Tawny Owl is a species of owl resident in much of Europe and southern Russia.... ). Distribution and habitat The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread vertebrateVertebrate Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns.... species on Earth, occurring on every continent except AntarcticaAntarctica Antarctica is the southernmost continent and encompasses the South Pole.... . It is absent from most of Canada and Alaska, as well as Greenland, most of central and eastern Asia, the Sahara Desert, New ZealandNew Zealand New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean consisting of two large islands and many much smaller islands, m... , and some Pacific islands. It is a birdFacts About Bird Birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, oviparous vertebrate animals characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as win... of open country, such as farmland, preferring to hunt along the edges of woods. Food and hunting The Barn Owl feeds primarily on small vertebrates, particularly rodents, but also small bats, birds and reptiles. It also sometimes eats insects. Studies have shown that an individual Barn Owl may eat one or more rodents per night; a nesting pair and their young can eat more than 1000 rodents per year. It has an effortless wavering flight as it quarters pastures or similar hunting grounds. Alternative names often refer to the appearance, white underparts, or eerie, silent flight, including Monkey-faced Owl, Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Golden Owl, Rat Owl and Stone Owl. Like most owls, the Barn Owl flies silently; tiny serrations on the leading edges of its flight featherFlight feather Flight feathers are the long, stiff, asymmetrically shaped, but symmetrically paired feathers on the wings or tail of a bird... s help to break up the flow of air over its wings, thereby reducing turbulence—and the noise that accompanies it. It hunts by flying low and slowly over an area of open ground, hovering over spots that conceal potential prey. The Barn Owl has acute hearing, with ears placed asymmetrically for improved detection of sound position and distance, and it does not require sight to hunt. Hunting nocturnally or crepuscularCrepuscular Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight.... ly, it can target and dive down, penetrating it talons through snow, grass or brush to seize rodents with deadly accuracy. Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents — often regarded as pests by humans — than possibly any other creature. This makes the Barn Owl one of the most economically valuable wildlife animals to farmers. Farmers find these owls more effective than poisons, and they often encourage Barn Owl habitation by providing nest sites. Threats Predators of the Barn Owl include opossums and raccoonRaccoon Raccoons are nocturnal mammals in the genus *Procyon* of the Procyonidae family.... s in the U.S., certain snakes, and other raptors such as hawks, eagles, and larger owls (including the Great Horned OwlGreat Horned Owl The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a very large owl.... and the Eurasian Eagle OwlEurasian Eagle Owl The Eurasian Eagle Owl is a species of horned owl resident in much of Europe and Asia.... ). The most common threats come from humans and their pets, particularly house cats. Status Barn Owls are relatively common throughout most of their range but they are rare in Britain. The most recent survey of their numbers in the UK put their population at around 4400 breeding pairs. In the US, Barn Owls are listed as endangered in seven Midwestern states. External links BrainMapsBrainMaps BrainMaps is an NIH-funded interactive zoomable high-resolution digital brain atlas and virtual microscope that is based on ... : at the Internet Bird Collection website ARKive- - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter - Cornell Lab of Ornithology - South Dakota Birds - BTO Barn Owl Monitoring Project (BOMP) - Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project - Barn Owl Project in Austria - BBC Wales Barn Owl page r>