top of page

barn owl (Tyto alba)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

  • Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 44 inches

  • Large, nocturnal, predatory bird

  • Large, rounded head

  • Pale facial disks with dark frame

  • Tawny and gray upperparts with small black and white spots

  • White underparts with scattered dark spots

  • Sexes similar

  • Sometimes found in barns and silos

Similar species:

The barn owl is easily distinguished from other owls by its face pattern.
In flight, it lacks dark wrist marks found in long-eared and short-eared
owls.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Grassland
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: Cavity
Clutch Size: 3-11
Length of Incubation: 30-34 days
Days to Fledge: 52-56
Number of Broods: 1, occasionally 2
Diet: Mostly small mammals

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November U

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species

Home Page

Park Activities

   Calendar of Events
  
Volunteer Programs

   Park Regulations

Sky Meadows Park
  
Location
   Geography
   Habitats
   Trails
   Visiting Park

   Virtual Tours

Crooked Run Valley

   Historic District

   Architecture Sites

   Mt. Bleak

   Historical Events

   Park History

   Agriculture

Special Projects

   Blue Bird

   Biodiversity Survey

   BioBlitz 

 

 

Home Page

Nature Guide

   Purpose

   Databases

   Copyright

Plants

   Trees

   Shrubs

   Vines

   Forbs/Herbs

   Ferns

   Grasses

Animals

   Mammals

   Birds

   Reptiles

   Amphibians

   Fish

   Butterflies

   Bees

Fungi

   Mushrooms

   Lichens

bottom of page