The RSPB: Barn owl

Barn owl

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Latin name

Tyto alba

Family

Owls (Tytonidae)

Overview

With heart shaped face, buff back and wings and pure white under parts the barn owl is a distinctive and much loved countryside bird. Widely distributed across the UK, and indeed the world, the bird has suffered declines over the past fifty years as a result of the degradation of once prey-rich habitats in the face of intensive agricultural practices. This decline, fortunately, has halted in many areas and the population may now be increasing.

Where to see them

Open country, along field edges, riverbanks and roadside verges.

When to see them

All year round; during the day, but best at dusk.

What they eat

Mice, voles and shrews

Estimated numbers

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
110-220,000 pairs	3,000-5,000 pairs	12,500-25,000 birds	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Worldwide: Cosmopolitan

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)