Common barn owl
Scientific name: Tyto alba
IUCN listed as: Least Concern
Learn before you visit!
Here are some facts about the species – Discover what they eat, find out about their natural habitat, see what they like to do, and more… Set the reading style to suit you too, everyday speak or something aimed towards children.
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Diet
The Barn Owl primarily feeds on small mammals, particularly rodents such as mice and voles. They hunt at night using their excellent hearing and silent flight to locate and capture prey. Barn Owls have a voracious appetite, consuming up to four small mammals per night. They are also known to eat birds, insects, and occasionally amphibians. The diet of a Barn Owl can vary based on the availability of prey in their habitat.
Barn Owls eat mostly small animals like mice and voles. They hunt at night using their great hearing to find food. They can eat up to four small animals every night. Sometimes, they also eat birds, insects, and frogs. What they eat depends on what’s around where they live.
Breeding
Barn Owls typically breed once or twice a year, depending on food availability. The female lays between 4 to 7 eggs, which she incubates for about 30 to 34 days. The male provides food for the female and the chicks during the incubation period. Once hatched, the chicks are cared for by both parents and fledge in about 50 to 55 days. Barn Owls often use old buildings, tree cavities, and nest boxes for breeding sites.
Barn Owls have babies once or twice a year if there’s enough food. The mother lays 4 to 7 eggs and keeps them warm for about a month. The dad brings food to the mom and babies. The baby owls can fly after about 50 to 55 days. Barn Owls like to nest in old buildings, tree holes, and nest boxes.
Habitat
Barn Owls are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including farmlands, grasslands, woodlands, and urban areas. They prefer open habitats where they can easily hunt for prey. These owls are also known to roost and nest in old buildings, barns, and tree cavities. Their wide distribution includes regions across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Despite their adaptability, they are sensitive to changes in their environment, such as habitat loss and pesticide use.
Barn Owls live in many places like farms, grasslands, forests, and cities. They like open areas where they can hunt easily. They often rest and nest in old buildings, barns, and tree holes. You can find Barn Owls all over the world, in places like America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. They need safe places to live and hunt, so losing their habitat is a big problem.
At the zoo
In zoos, Barn Owls are kept in enclosures that mimic their natural habitat, providing ample space for flight and hunting behaviours. They are part of breeding programs to ensure genetic diversity and support conservation efforts. Zoos provide educational programs to inform the public about the importance of Barn Owls in controlling rodent populations. These owls are fed a diet similar to their natural diet, including rodents and birds. Proper veterinary care is also crucial to maintain their health and well-being in captivity.
In zoos, Barn Owls live in spaces that look like their natural homes, with lots of room to fly. Zoos help them have babies and teach people about how they help control pests. They get fed mice and other small animals just like in the wild. Zoos also make sure the owls stay healthy with regular check-ups. These birds help people learn about why owls are important.
Behaviour
Barn Owls are nocturnal hunters, using their exceptional hearing and silent flight to catch prey. They are solitary birds outside of the breeding season, often occupying large territories. Their eerie, raspy calls are distinctive and can be heard during the night. Barn Owls are known for their unique ability to fly silently, thanks to the specialized structure of their feathers. This silent flight helps them to effectively hunt without alerting their prey.
Barn Owls hunt at night and are very quiet when they fly. They live alone most of the time and have large areas they call home. Their spooky, raspy calls are easy to recognize at night. Their special feathers help them fly silently to catch their food. This makes them great hunters.
Fun facts
- Silent Flyers: Barn Owls have special feathers that let them fly without making a sound.
- Heart-shaped Face: Their unique face shape helps them hear even the smallest sounds.
- Wide Eyes: Barn Owls can’t move their eyes, but they can turn their heads almost all the way around.
- Global Residents: These owls live on every continent except Antarctica.
- Rodent Control: A single Barn Owl family can eat over 1,000 rodents a year, helping farmers.
- Quiet Flyers: Barn Owls can fly without making any noise because of their special feathers.
- Heart-shaped Face: Their face looks like a heart and helps them hear tiny sounds really well.
- Big Eyes: Barn Owls can’t move their eyes, so they turn their heads almost all the way around to see.
- World Travellers: You can find Barn Owls everywhere except Antarctica.
- Rodent Eaters: One Barn Owl family can eat over 1,000 mice and rats in a year, which helps farmers a lot.
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