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    • Great Saltee 2013
    • Great Saltee 2014
    • Scotland 2014
    • Japan 2014 >
      • Red Crowned Cranes
      • Snow Monkeys
      • Steller Eagle
      • White Tailed Eagles
      • Whooper Swans
    • Yellowstone Park 2015 >
      • Bison
      • Coyote
      • Elk
      • Grizzly Bear
      • Landscape
      • BigHorn Sheep
      • Moose
      • Pronghorn
      • Red Fox
      • Other
    • Scotland 2015 >
      • Osprey 2015
    • Africa 2015 >
      • African Elephant
      • African Wild Dogs
      • Antelope
      • Baboon
      • Birds
      • Hippos
      • Giraffe
      • Leopards
      • Meerkat
      • Warthog
      • Zebra
    • Falklands 2015 >
      • Birds
      • Elephant Seals
      • Penguins
    • South Georgia 2015 >
      • Birds
      • Seals
      • Penguins
    • Dovrefjell. Norway
    • Iceland 2016 >
      • Wildlife
      • Landscapes
    • Melrakki - Iceland
    • Puffins of Skomer Island 2017
    • Golden Eagles of Sweeden
    • Shetland Islands 2017
    • Antarctica - The Last Frontier
    • Big Cats and wildlife of Tanzania
  • Masterclass
    • Get down low
    • Fieldcraft
    • Composition
    • Lighting
  • Bird ID Help
    • Barn Owl
    • Bar Tailed Godwit
    • Bearded Reedling
    • Black Tailed Godwit
    • Common Kestrel
    • Dunlin
    • Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • Kingfisher
    • Marsh Harrier
    • Knot
    • Northern Wheatear
    • Reed Bunting
    • Ringed Plover
    • Sanderling
    • Siskin
    • Snow Bunting
    • Some British Birds of Prey
    • Stonechat
    • Wader ID Help
    • Winter Thrushes
  • Fine Art prints
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Barn Owl id check

Picture
The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a short squarish tail. Generally a medium-sized owl, there is considerable size variation across the subspecies. The Barn Owl measures about 25–50 cm (9.8–20 in) in overall length, with a wingspan of some 75–110 cm (30–43 in). Adult body mass is also variable, ranging from 187 to 800 g (6.6 to 28 oz), with the owls closer to the tropics being generally smaller. Tail shape is a way of distinguishing the Barn Owl from true owls when seen in flight, as are the wavering motions and the open dangling feathered legs. The light face with its heart shape and the black eyes give the flying bird an odd and startling appearance, like a flat mask with oversized oblique black eyeslits, the ridge of feathers above the bill somewhat resembling a nose.
Picture
Its head and upper body typically vary between a light brown and a light colored and dark grey (especially on the forehead and back) feathers in most subspecies. Some are purer, richer brown instead, and all have fine black-and-white speckles except on the remiges and rectrices, which are light brown with darker bands. The heart-shaped face is usually bright white, but in some subspecies it is browner. The underparts (including the tarsometatarsus feathers) vary from white to reddish buff among the subspecies, and are either mostly unpatterned or bear a varying amount of tiny blackish-brown speckles. It was found that at least in the continental European populations, females with more spotting are healthier on average. This does not hold true for European males by contrast, where the spotting varies according to subspecies. The bill varies from pale horn to dark buff, corresponding to the general plumage hue. The iris is blackish brown. The toes, as the bill, vary in color; their color ranges from pinkish to dark pinkish-grey. The talons are black.
Picture
On average, within any one population males tend to be less spotted on the underside than females. The latter are also larger, as is common for owls. A strong female T. alba of a large subspecies may weigh over 550 g (19.4 oz), while males are typically about 10% lighter. Nestlings are covered in white down all over, but the heart-shaped facial disk is visible soon after hatching.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not hoot (such calls are made by typical owls, like the Tawny Owl or otherStrix). It instead produces the characteristic shree scream, ear-shattering at close range. Males in courtship give a shrill twitter. It can hiss like a snake to scare away intruders, and when captured or cornered, it throws itself on its back and flails with sharp-taloned feet, making for an effective defense. Also given in such situations is a rasp and a clicking snap, produced by the bill or possibly the tongue. It is most recognizable by its "mask-like" face.

Interesting Facts


  • Barn Owls are encouraged to nest in certain agricultural areas because of their ability to control rodents better than traps or poisons and at no cost. Research indicates that they eat twice as much prey for their weight as other owls.
  • Their uncanny sense of hearing is aided by their asymmetrically placed ears. They are able to use this sense to capture prey hidden by snow or vegetation. Their ears have feathered flaps that can close to provide protection if they encounter sound that is too intense.
  • They typically approach their prey from a low flight path. Grasping the prey with their feet, they use their beak to bite through the back of the skull. Prey is swallowed whole. They are also known to cache food when nesting.
  • A group of owls has many collective nouns, including a "bazaar", "glaring", "parliament", "stooping", and "wisdom" of owls.

More ID Help


Barn Owl
Bar tailed Godwit
Bearded Reedling
Black tailed Godwit
Common Kestrel
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kingfisher
Knot
Dunlin
Reed Bunting
Ringed Plover
Marsh Harrier
Northern Wheatear
Sanderling
Siskin
Some British Birds of Prey
Stonechat
Wader ID Help
Winter Thrushes


Useful Links
The Barn Owl Trust
The Hawk and Owl Trust
RSPB
Underwater Photography
Wildlife & Environmental Causes
Scottish Wildlife
National Geographic

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All images appearing on this website and its content are the copyright of John S Betts. All rights reserved.