North American field guide
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Also known as:Common Barn Owl, White Owl, Silver Owl, Demon Owl, Ghost Owl, Death Owl, Night Owl, Rat Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Church Owl, Cave Owl, Stone Owl.
Identification
Field notes
36-51 cm (14-20") Uncommon in east; more common in west. City and farm buildings, towns, cliffs, trees.
Large slender owl; rusty-brown above; white to buffy underparts; no ear tufts; white heart-shaped face; dark eyes; long legs. Only other large owls with dark eyes are the Barred and Spotted. Only Snowy owl is as light on the underside.
Strictly nocturnal. Nests in abandoned buildings, tree cavities.
Song: wheezy cry; shrill rasping hiss.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Learn about the Barn Owl with David Ramsden of The Barn Owl Trust
Credit: Hill Tribe MediaBarn Owl
Credit: Fred KellermanBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Barn Owl
2 rulesRule 1 9 criteria · confidence 2
- Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
Rule 2 9 criteria · confidence 4
- Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States