The barn owl (Tyto alba) is one of the most benefi cial owls in the world. Farmers who know the merits of the barn owl strive to keep this “cat with wings” around their crops. One of the common resident owls, the barn owl has, a white heart-shaped face and is distinguished by whitish or pale cinnamon under-parts (that look ghostly at night) and buffy or rusty upper plumage. Average barn owls weigh about 1 pound, and are approximately 15 inches long with a wingspan of about 40 inches.
Barn owls frequently are seen near roads, vacant fields, and wooded areas at night. Their call is a long, raspy scream. They hunt from perched or flying positions. Velvety feathers with soft fringes allow them to silently approach their prey, which they can find in total darkness. A barn owl’s diet consists mainly of rodents, such as gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow mice.
Barn owls frequently are seen near roads, vacant fields, and wooded areas at night. Their call is a long, raspy scream. They hunt from perched or flying positions. Velvety feathers with soft fringes allow them to silently approach their prey, which they can find in total darkness. A barn owl’s diet consists mainly of rodents, such as gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow mice.
