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

 

 

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