Western barn owl

Tyto alba · The western barn owl is a pale, heart-faced owl that lives across Europe, southwestern Asia and Africa.

Also called Common barn owl.

Western barn owl
Photo: Steven Ward, CC BY 2.0
Western barn owl
Photo: Alun Williams333, CC BY-SA 4.0
Western barn owl
Photo: Rolf Tuinstra, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderStrigiformes
FamilyTytonidae
GenusTyto
SpeciesTyto alba

Where it lives

Farmland and grassland across Europe, Africa, Arabia and the Middle East.

Fun facts

  • Despite popular belief, the western barn owl never hoots; instead it lets out an eerie, long-drawn-out shriek.
  • Tiny serrations and a hairlike fringe on its flight feathers break up airflow, so the owl flies almost silently.
  • Its ears are placed asymmetrically, which helps it pinpoint sounds so well that it does not need sight to hunt.
  • When cornered, a barn owl throws itself onto its back and flails its sharp-taloned feet, and both young and old can hiss like a snake.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).