adult

adult in flight dark-breasted form European distribution

Identification

The sheer whiteness of a Barn Owl makes it easy to identify. Other owls can look very pale when caught in the glare of car headlights but only the Barn owl is completely white below, even in its face.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in open country, with rough grassland. Breeds in derelict buildings or holes in trees.

Behaviour

The eggs are laid at 1-2 day intervals and incubation begins when the first egg is laid. This means the young hatch out at different times so the youngest may emerge when some siblings are already a week old. This creates a pecking order amongst the chicks in which the oldest birds always get fed first and the youngest will only survive if there is enough food left over. Therefore, if food is plentiful, the owls have the capacity to rear many young but in a bad year the presence of the youngest chicks will not have jeopardised the survival of the older chicks.

Migration

Resident although juveniles disperse during their first year.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Barn Owl is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk 24/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 27/07/2010	undisc. site, Kent 24/07/2010	Beccles, Suffolk 24/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 27/07/2010
Beccles, Suffolk 24/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 27/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 23/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 23/07/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 23/07/2010

 View all pictures of Barn Owl

Barn Owl breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madeira
Malta
Moldova
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk   Barn Owl Trust	Edit this link
Registered charity. Aims to conserve the Barn Owl and its environment through conservation, education, research and information. Freely downloadable information leaflets available on all aspects of Barn Owl conservation as well as slideshows and live webcams.	Broken link
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob7350.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Barn Owl	Edit this link
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	BirdLife: Flying mouse-traps clean up fields	Wednesday 15th April 2009
	A novel method of pest-control is helping to make Israel greener.   read on
	Review: Barn Owl Diaries	Friday 29th August 2008
	The Barn Owl Diaries featured in the BirdGuides webzine have been published in book form to raise funds. Read a review by Prof. David Parkin.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 7	Friday 26th October 2007
	Part 7 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 6	Wednesday 12th September 2007
	Part 6 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	RSPB: Barn Storming Owl Wins Vote	Tuesday 31st July 2007
	The Barn Owl has won a ballot to find Britain's favourite farmland bird.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 5	Wednesday 25th July 2007
	Part 5 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 4	Monday 2nd July 2007
	Part 4 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 3	Wednesday 13th June 2007
	Part 3 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 2	Tuesday 22nd May 2007
	Follow Part 2 of our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Barn Owl Diaries: Part 1: Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project	Tuesday 15th May 2007
	Few can fail to be enthralled by this beautiful species. Follow our diary following the progress of Barn Owls in south and east Nottinghamshire.   read on
	Boosting Barn Owls in the Lower Derwent Valley	Tuesday 16th August 2005
	Studies over the past four years have found that the Lower Derwent Valley near York may be one of the most important areas in Britain for Barn Owls.

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