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Barn Owl
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Genus: Tyto
Species: alba
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La. strix, strigis owl
La. forma form, shape,
kind
Gr. tuto owl
La. albus white |
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Eighteen inches long, up to four foot wing
span. Upperparts a mixture of amber and mottled gray finely speckled with
black and white. Heart-shaped facial disks; white underparts. White mottled with black,
sometimes barred tail. Small black eyes. Long wings and long feathered legs.
Resident of southern portions of the continent from British Columbia and
Ontario to Mexico. In the East as far north as Massachusetts. Barn owls or their
cousins with slight changes in appearance can be found through out most parts of the world
in temperate and tropical regions. Barn Owls are actually more widespread than
the reported sightings in the survey map.
While not abundant in the North, Barn Owl populations are declining
further due to loss of habitat, nesting sites and prey species. Bird Studies Canada
hosts the Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Program |
Accumulates loosely piled bones in tree hollows, deserted buildings and
barns, boat wrecks on the coast, church towers, holes in banks, even holes
in the open prairies. Sometimes claims old crows' nests.
A pair of Barn Owls lived for years on one of the towers of the
Smithsonian Institution. |
W.L. Finley |
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Lays five to eleven white eggs often found at varying
stages of incubation. About a month of incubation and young leave the
nest after about another two months. Eats mice, rats and other
mammals, insects, frogs, some birds, rarely poultry.
In Florida, farmers mount Barn Owl nest boxes as rats
cause nearly $30 million damage every year to sugar cane crops. One pair
of Barn Owls and their offspring may catch and consume as many as 3,000
rats per year.
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Conceals itself so well during the day and so silent at night, that neighbors
may be totally unaware of its presence. When they are disturbed in their
nest they click their bills and hiss. Occasionally a startling scream and
quivering cry.Considered unlucky in the folklore and
superstitions of many cultures, abhorred by the Romans. The Barn Owl
represented the letter "M" in Egyptian hieroglyphs and mummified remains
have been discovered. |
Egyptian Relief, 1,300 BC |
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Barn Owl Nestbox |
The Barn Owl nest box is unusual. One design has a 10" by 18" floor, is
16" tall, and has a 6" by 6" opening near the floor. It should be mounted at
least 12' high in a barn, tree, or tower. There are many varied designs
which one can find through an internet search.
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Louis Agassiz Fuertes
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