Description
Barn Owls are moderately common, but generally
hard to see, as they are mostly active at
night. During the day, the birds roost on
concealed tree branches. They are the most
widespread and familiar of the owls. Barn
Owls are medium sized, 30 to 39 cm (females
slightly larger than males), with a 'heart-shaped'
facial disc. They have sandy orange and light
grey upperparts and white to cream underparts.
Both the back and breast are evenly spotted
with black. Birds often appear whiter than
normal when illuminated in car headlights
or torches. Young birds are similar to adults
in plumage. |
|
Barn Owls are generally quiet,
the common call being a 1 2 second rough,
hissing screech. Less frequently, birds give
whistling and wheezing notes and some snapping
and bill clacking during mating and threat
displays.
When threatened, the Barn Owl crouches down
and spreads its wings.
Distribution and Habitat
By day the Barn Owl roosts in hollow logs,
caves or dense trees, and is usually seen
alone or in pairs. The preferred habitat is
open, often arid (dry) country, such as farms,
heath and lightly wooded forest. The species
is found throughout Australia. Its distribution
is limited only by habitat and food availability.
Subspecies of the Barn Owl are found on every
continent in the world except Antarctica.
Food and feeding
Barn Owls feed mostly on small mammals, mainly
rodents, and birds, but some insects, frogs
and lizards are also eaten. One of the more
favoured foods is the House
Mouse, Mus musculus.
Barn Owls hunt in flight, searching for prey
on the ground using their exceptional hearing.
The heart-shaped structure of the facial disc
is unique to these types of owls (Tyto species).
The slightest sound waves are channelled toward
the ears, allowing the owl to pinpoint prey
even in complete darkness.
Breeding
Barn Owls have no definite breeding season.
Breeding takes place mostly in response to
food availability and often twice per year.
The nest is normally a hollow in a tree, but
birds sometimes nest in caves or abandoned
buildings. The entrance hole is usually 15
to 25 m above the ground, though the nest
chamber may be up to 10 m down inside the
tree. No nest material is used, except a few
old pellets, which are the regurgitated indigestible
leftovers of small mammals and other prey.
A typical clutch consists of three to six,
rarely up to 12, pale white eggs, which are
laid at two-day intervals. The female alone
incubates the eggs, but both parents care
for the young. The young leave the nest 7
to 10 days after hatching, but will perch
in the vicinity of the nest site and be fed
by the adults for a further month or so. |
| |
