Western Barn Owl
Tyto alba · Bay Owls and Barn Owls
The Western Barn Owl is a medium-sized, pale owl recognized by its distinctive heart-shaped face. This strictly nocturnal bird of prey is known for its silent flight and eerie calls, which have contributed to its presence in folklore. It is one of the most widespread land birds globally, found across diverse habitats.
Explore the full field guidenocturnal, widespread, screechresident, medium-sized, silent
36 calls·first heard Jun 27·last 4d ago
When it's heardpeak 8p · fall
5a12p9p
How to know it
- A prominent, white, heart-shaped facial disc frames dark, relatively small eyes.
- Upperparts are mottled grey or brown, while underparts range from white to tan, often with dark speckles. Males tend to be whiter with less speckling than females.
- Long wings and a short, square tail are covered with white or light brown downy feathers.
- Long, feathered legs are easily visible when the owl is perched or in flight.