Barn owl: Difference between revisions
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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 [[True_owl|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.<ref name= Mullarney >{{cite book | last = Mullarney | first = Killian | coauthors= Svensson, Lars; Zetterstrom, Dan; Grant, Peter |title = Collins Bird Guide | year = 1999 |location=London | publisher = HarperCollins | pages= pp. 212-213 | isbn = 0-00-219728-6}}</ref> |
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 [[True_owl|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.<ref name= Mullarney >{{cite book | last = Mullarney | first = Killian | coauthors= Svensson, Lars; Zetterstrom, Dan; Grant, Peter |title = Collins Bird Guide | year = 1999 |location=London | publisher = HarperCollins | pages= pp. 212-213 | isbn = 0-00-219728-6}}</ref> |
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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 [[Screech-owl|megascops]]. 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 |
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 [[Screech-owl|megascops]]. 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 defense. Contrary to popular belief, it does not make the call "tu-whit to-whoo" (which is made by the [[Tawny Owl]]). |
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==Distribution and habitat== |
==Distribution and habitat== |
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Revision as of 11:46, 25 August 2008
- The place in Russia is spelled Barnaul.
| Barn Owl | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | T. alba
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| Binomial name | |
| Tyto alba | |
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| Global distribution of Tyto alba | |
| Synonyms | |
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Lechusa stirtoni Miller, 1956 | |
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed 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 family Tytonidae, any of which may be called a barn owl. Tytonidae is one of the two groups of owls, the other being the typical owls 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.[2]
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 megascops. 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 defense. Contrary to popular belief, it does not make the call "tu-whit to-whoo" (which is made by the Tawny Owl).
Distribution and habitat
The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread vertebrate species on Earth, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. It is absent from most of Canada and Alaska, as well as Greenland, most of central and eastern Asia, the Sahara Desert, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. It is a bird 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.[3] 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.[4][5]
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 feathers help to break up the flow of air over its wings, thereby reducing turbulence—and the noise that accompanies it.[3] 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 crepuscularly, 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.[1]
Threats
Predators of the Barn Owl include opossums and raccoons in the U.S., certain snakes, and other raptors such as hawks, eagles, and larger owls (including the Great Horned Owl and the Eurasian Eagle Owl). 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.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Mullarney, Killian (1999). Collins Bird Guide. London: HarperCollins. pp. pp. 212-213. ISBN 0-00-219728-6.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Ehrlich, Paul R. (1994). The Birdwatcher's Handbook: A Guide to the Natural History of the Birds of Britain and Europe. Oxford University Press. pp. pp. 250-254. ISBN 0-19-858407-5.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "UC Davis". Retrieved 2007-12-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ "Pennsylvania Game Commission".
External links
- Birdlife species factsheet
- BrainMaps: Tyto alba (barn owl) brain
- Barn Owl videos at the Internet Bird Collection website
- ARKive-Barn Owl video
- Barn Owl - Tyto alba - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Barn Owl Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barn Owl Information - South Dakota Birds
- BTO - BOMP - BTO Barn Owl Monitoring Project (BOMP)
- Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project - Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project
- Barn Owl Project in Austria - Barn Owl Project in Austria
- BBC - Wales - Barn Owls - BBC Wales Barn Owl page
- World Owl Trust Website
- Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta