Western Barn Owl

Tyto alba
Wingspan

85–95cm

Body length

35–40cm

Weight

290–460g

Profile

Life expectancy
Clutch size
Usually 4–6 eggs
Global status
Activity
Migration

Identification

The heart-shaped facial disc and dark eyes are unmistakable. Long wings, a short tail and pale underparts mark it in flight; it has no ear tufts.

Colours

Plumage
Eyes
Legs & feet

Adult

Heart-shaped pale facial disc, dark eyes and golden-grey upperparts. The underparts range from white to rusty buff; the sexes overlap in colour and spotting.

Behaviour

Hunts mainly at night and at dusk. Its acute hearing helps it locate hidden small mammals. By day it often roosts in buildings; its call is a harsh screech.

Breeding & rearing

Breeds in sheltered niches in buildings, tree holes and nest boxes. The female starts incubating early, so young of different ages grow up together. They fledge after about eight weeks.

Diet

Prey examples

Voles
Mice

Small mammals, especially voles, make up the main diet. Other mice and shrews are also taken; small birds supplement the diet only occasionally.

Occasional

Songbirds

Hunting

Western Barn Owl: Silent flight · Search flight · Perch hunting
Silent hunting flightSearch flightPerch hunting

In low quartering flight or from a perch, it locates small mammals. Its facial disc aids directional hearing; it strikes after a silent approach with talons extended.

Distribution

Range

Europe, Africa & Western Asia

Status in Germany

Breeding birdWinter visitor

Habitat

Open farmland with meadows, pastures and field margins. Barns, church towers and other buildings offer sheltered nest sites.

Open meadows, fields and varied hedgerow landscape
Meadows & fields
Western Barn Owl