Owls

Barn Owl

Tyto alba
Barn Owl thumbnail
Length: 16 in. (41 cm )
Active only at night, this ghostly species is most likely to be seen during the daylight hours at its roosting sites in old buildings, under palm leaf skirts, caves, or mines in open forests, grasslands, and near agricultural fields. This species also occurs around the world in a wide variety of habitats. It nests in rafters of old barns, cliff edges, mines and nest boxes when available. The number of young is apparently determined by prey abundance during the preceding winter. Its prey are mostly mice, but also reptiles, frogs and insects, all of which are located primarily by hearing at night.

The four-digit banding code is BNOW.

Male | David Pearson


Agricultural

Riparian / River forest

Savanna

Urban city
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View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Barn Owl
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: July 13, 2017
  • Date accessed: March 7, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/barn-owl

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, July 13). Barn Owl. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 7, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/barn-owl

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Barn Owl". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 July, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/barn-owl

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Barn Owl". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 7 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/barn-owl

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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