The barn owl has a body length of 33-39 cm, the wingspan reaches 80-95 cm. But the weight barn owls varies widely and depends on the fatness of a particular individual and is not a geographical characteristic. The minimum weight is about 190 g, the maximum is about 700 g. In general, the barn owl is of medium size with a slender build and long legs. The body is covered with very soft, fluffy plumage. In this case, the upper part of the body is usually buffy-red, with transverse ash-gray streaks and numerous small dark stripes and specks. But the color of the plumage of the lower part of the body changes in different habitat areas. In Western and Southern Europe, the Western Canary Islands, North Africa and the Middle East, the plumage of the underparts is white; while in the rest of Europe, in the Eastern Canary Islands and on the island of Madeira, it is yellow-orange. Rare dark spots, as a rule, are scattered on the lower part of the body. The tail is short.
Like all barn owls, the facial corolla of the barn owl is heart-shaped. It is usually white with an ocher edge, and with small patches of rufous feathers under the eyes. The iris of the eyes is dark brown. The barn owl is characterized by an asymmetrical arrangement of ears: one of them is located in the forehead, while the other is at the level of the nostrils. This structure of the hearing aid helps birds to hear sounds made by potential prey perfectly from different angles.
The beak and wax are light, yellowish-white. The legs are completely covered with feathers, but they are sparse on the tibia and tarsus. Males and females differ little in appearance from each other - females, as a rule, look slightly darker than males. Young birds either do not differ from adults or look more colorful.
Most often, barn owls make various sounds during the breeding season - at this time they scream hoarsely or shrilly, sniffle, and hoot. Thanks to its special, hoarse and rattling cry “heee”, the bird received its Russian name “barn owl”. Outside the breeding season, the birds are usually silent. In addition to vocal sounds, barn owls sometimes click their beaks, tongues, or flap their wings demonstratively.
Barn owls are very widespread in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica, as well as on numerous islands, including remote ones. However, despite their good adaptability to various geographical conditions, they are not able to accumulate fat reserves, and for this reason they cannot tolerate the cold northern climate. Barn owls are completely absent from America in the northern regions of the United States and most of Canada, northern Europe and almost all of Russia, with the exception of the Kaliningrad region. Also, barn owls do not get along in mountainous areas above 1000 m above sea level and in Asian and African deserts. In the 20th century, the barn owl was deliberately introduced by humans into areas where it had not yet lived - to the Hawaiian, Seychelles, New Zealand and Lord Howe Island. After settlement in the Seychelles in 1949, the population of the native Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea) began to decline sharply, which was hunted by the barn owl.
It lives in a wide range of different biotopes, but is most often found in open flat landscapes with a small number of trees - in open forests, in a meadow with dense grass, in a swamp, along reservoirs, ravines, wastelands, and highways. Willingly settles near agricultural farms and human habitation. In arid areas it lives among shrubby vegetation and xerophytic plants. He tries to avoid dense forests and high mountain areas. In general, the distribution of barn owls is limited only by the lack of cold winters, the availability of food and weak competition with other predators. Unlike many other birds, barn owls have benefited from human activities such as forest clearing and development. Agriculture only contributed to their settlement over a vast territory.
Behavior In flight Barn owls are usually active at night. They lead a solitary lifestyle, but in places where game is concentrated they can also be found in small groups. They sleep during the day, alone or with other birds. For overnight stay, they choose some natural or artificial niche - a hollow, a hole in the ground, an unused attic in the house. During the hunt, they can fly around the property, constantly changing altitude - up and down, or wait for the victim from an ambush. The flight is soft and silent - the wings of birds are designed in such a way that the ends of the flight feathers muffle the sound of flight. Barn owls' vision is very well developed both in the dark and in daylight. When a person approaches, birds usually rise high and quietly sway on their legs to the right and left, while making various grimaces. If you get close to the bird, it will most likely fly away. As a rule, they live sedentary, but if the food supply is depleted, they can migrate to a new place. The grown chicks disperse, finding new territory for hunting and reproduction.
Reproduction Usually monogamous, although sometimes there are cases of polygamy, and very rarely polyandry. The beginning of the breeding season depends on climatic conditions or the abundance of game - in a hot tropical climate it is not limited by time, in areas with seasonal fluctuations in humidity it is tied to the end of the dry season, and in the north of the range it occurs at the beginning of the warm season. Hatches chicks once or twice a year - in the temperate zone of Europe and North America in the case of a single clutch this occurs in March-June, in the case of a repeated clutch in March-May and in June-August. In Malaysia, there are reports of three clutches per year. The male chooses a place for the nest, and, having chosen it, begins to actively fly around and scream, thus calling the female. During courtship, the male chases the female, and both of them make hoarse, shrill sounds. Head of a chick Skull of a barn owl Birds nest in single pairs or small groups, sometimes close to other owls, such as the tawny owl (Strix aluco) or the great eagle owl (Bubo virginanus). No nests are built as such, but the place in which the birds nest must be closed and dark. This could be a hollow tree, a depression in an old stump, a hole on a steep bank of a river or sea, an attic in a building, or any other artificial structure where suitable conditions exist. Last year's nests of other birds can also be occupied - for example, osprey, common social weaver (Philetarius socius), etc. As a rule, the nest is located at a height of 2-20 m above the ground. During nesting, the birds' hunting territory is 2.9-9.5 km², but they only guard a distance of a few meters around the nest. Clutch size consists of 2-14 (usually 4-7) eggs and depends on the abundance of food - during seasons when rodent populations explode, there are usually more eggs. Egg size - (38-46) - (30-35) mm, shell color - white or cream. Around the eggs you can always find so-called pellets - lumps of regurgitated food, consisting of fur, feathers and bones of the victims. The incubation period is 29-34 days; One female incubates, and the male brings her food during this period. 
The hatched chicks are covered with thick white down and are completely dependent on their parents, who feed them in turn. After 35-45 days, the chicks begin to leave the nest, and after 50-55 they begin to fly. Young birds become completely independent at the age of approximately 3 months, after which they disperse. Barn owls are characterized by a large radius of dispersion - for example, according to the observations of ornithologists, chicks hatched in the Netherlands were later found in Spain and Ukraine.
The barn owl's diet is based on various mouse-like rodents - voles, rats, hamsters, gophers, gerbils, etc. Often in a given region only one or a few species of prey dominate, such as the palm rat (Rattus palmarum) in Malaysia. In addition to rodents, it preys on shrews, possums, and other species of birds, including raptors. If necessary, catches bats, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates.
Its main habitat is forest. But everything changed dramatically after the release of the legendary epic about Harry Potter. In this film, barn owls appeared in the form of postmen, whose appearance was associated with the fabulous Horguards. Needless to say, almost every child immediately wanted such a real, living bird?
The barn owl, which requires maintenance at home special attention, has become a desired pet for many adults. At the same time, few people think about the fact that it is a real predator, and its proper maintenance in a house or apartment may require certain sacrifices from the owner.
wonderful bird
In Latin, the name of this bird sounds like Tyto alba, which translated into Russian means “common barn owl.” This bird is found almost anywhere in the world and has another common name - barn owl. On average, its length reaches 33-40 cm, and its wingspan, as a rule, does not exceed 95 cm. Its weight is small - no more than 700 g.
Barn owls attract attention due to their pretty appearance, and they also have very soft, pleasant-to-touch plumage. And the main distinguishing feature of this species from others is the facial corolla, which has an original heart shape.
Difference from other species
In addition to the facial disc, which has a pronounced heart-shaped shape, the barn owl, a photo of which can be seen in our article, differs from its fellows in its lighter plumage. These birds have a peculiar structure of the hearing apparatus: their right ear is located at the level of the nostrils, and the left ear is located at the level of the forehead. Thanks to this arrangement of the owl's organs, barn owls have truly perfect hearing. They are able to pick up the sounds of a potential victim over a huge range and from different angles.
Barn owl: where is it found?
Most often the bird can be found in wastelands, ravines and swamps. Under natural conditions, the barn owl, photos of which are presented in the article, prefers to choose open plains for settlement, where there are a small number of trees.
These birds also love to settle near human habitation and rural farms. Human activity in clearing forests and cultivating land, unlike many other predators, only benefits barn owls. Human agricultural work makes it much easier for the owl to find food.
Features of behavior
IN wildlife this species prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle. At the tips of their wings, these birds have specific flight feathers, due to which their flight is cushioned, becomes very soft, smooth and almost silent. These owls have almost perfect vision and can navigate perfectly both in daylight and in pitch darkness.
If a person approaches a wild owl, then, as a rule, it immediately rises into the air, may begin to sway from side to side, and even begin to make various funny faces. They prefer to lead and can live in the same favorite place for years. Only a lack of food can send an owl in search of a new place.
The barn owl is active exclusively at night, but during the day it mostly prefers to sleep. During the breeding season, barn owls can make various sounds - shrill screams, hoarse hoots, and sniffles. During calm periods, birds like to click their beaks or click their tongues.
Food for cute owl
The cute heart-shaped face, funny habits and expressive eyes of the owl can mislead many. Being in a state of emotion, people sometimes forget that this bird is a real predator. Those who think that a barn owl at home can eat like an ordinary parrot are greatly mistaken. It is necessary to understand that oats, millet and fruits will not be enough for her.
The basis of the owl's diet consists of various rodents. These could be hamsters, field mice, gerbils, gophers, rats. In nature, these owls can hunt reptiles, invertebrate animals, shrews, and possums. If necessary, the barn owl can also feast on other small birds, frogs and bats.
Features of digestion
Even if a person is not embarrassed by the need to feed the bird with living creatures, it is necessary to pay attention to the special process of digestion. A barn owl at home must receive live food. Some owners try to cheat and feed the birds simply fresh meat, chicken and rabbit hearts. Such food can completely upset your pet’s digestion.
The owl, like other representatives of its genus, has a specific digestive tract that needs to digest wool and bones. After eating its prey within a few hours, the bird forms a pellet. This is the pellet that an owl spews out after eating, and it consists mainly of undigested bones, fur and feathers. It is very important to ensure that the pellet comes out after each meal. After this, it must be removed immediately by the owners, since owls, foolishly, may eat it again.
How to choose the right pet and where to buy it
If (despite all the specifics of keeping an owl at home and the difficulties ahead) a decision has been made to buy a bird, you need to know where this is being done. Today the supply for these wild predators is quite large. But you should not buy an owl online or at the bird market. Firstly, it may be sick, and secondly, it may be a freshly caught, completely wild individual, which will be very difficult to accustom to life in an apartment.
The ideal option for purchase is specialized nurseries, where they advise purchasing young chicks. Also, employees will be able to advise owners on any questions and tell them what to do next after the purchase.
Each owl taken into the nursery has a special ring on its paw with a number stamped on it. When purchasing, it is important to ensure that the numbers on the bird’s documents and on this ring are identical. If there is such a possibility, after purchasing a pet, it is recommended to show it to an ornithologist or at least a veterinarian. The doctor can take the necessary tests, order an x-ray and conduct a full examination, thereby determining the general condition of the bird.
So, you delivered the owl to new house. Naturally, she may be scared and confused. You should not annoy her with your attention by constantly touching her. The box with the bird should be placed in its new room, opened and the owl left alone until it crawls out on its own. Most likely, she will constantly hide, and this state of stress can last about 3-4 days.
Arranging a cage or room for an owl
The ideal option for the bird to live would be a separate room. All sharp objects and corners that may pose a risk of injury to the bird during flight must be removed from the room or covered with soft material. It is also necessary to allocate a corner for sitting, but, as a rule, the owl chooses a perch on its own, having chosen a certain place.
If you decide to keep a bird in a cage, it must be large in size so that you can fly in it with its wings fully extended. Also, do not forget that when kept in a cage, the owl must regularly leave it, walk and fly around the apartment so that its wings do not atrophy.
Clean drinking water must be present within reach at all times. It is recommended to change the water at least twice a day.
Features of bird care
You need to carefully monitor the beak and nails of owls living at home. If there is any deformation or damage to the beak, the owl should be shown to a doctor. Regarding nails, almost all owners cut them for their pets, because they are very sharp in owls and often lead to various injuries. It is best if this procedure is carried out by a specialist. If it is not possible to contact an ornithologist, the nails should be cut very carefully, removing only the white part. In the place where the nail darkens or veins are visible, nothing should be touched. These veins are blood vessels and damage to them will be very painful for the bird.
How to feed an owl correctly
You can feed your pet only after the pellet has passed due to a previous meal. Otherwise, the owl may develop a stomach obstruction. If she is fed the wrong food, after which the pellet does not form, this leads to complete disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and the formation of a stomach ulcer. An owl with such a problem, unfortunately, will not live long and will suffer greatly.
During the day, an adult can eat about 2-4 mice. At the same time, you can feed her when she asks. One of the rare species that eats only when necessary and does not suffer from excessive gluttony is the barn owl. The chick of this bird, especially the small one, may have a completely different attitude towards food.
Small owlets, about several days old, need to be fed constantly, almost every half hour. In this case, food must be given upon their first request. It is believed that it is impossible to overfeed them. The larger the owlet becomes, the less frequent the meals should be. For example, a bird in one month old They feed him only 5-6 times a day.
To feed small owlets, sometimes mice must first be butchered. The fact is that large rodents, fighting for their lives, will resist and can injure the owlets’ paws, after which various inflammations and infections are possible.
What to prepare for if you decide to have an owl at home
As soon as an owl appears at home, without the slightest exaggeration or any doubt, we can say that the owner’s life will never be the same. This step must be very deliberate, and the person purchasing a carnivore that will be kept in captivity must be aware of the responsibility he is taking on.
You need to prepare for the fact that with the onset of darkness your pet will begin an active life. Constant stomping, clicking, rustling, knocking will become business card your apartment at night.
The owner rarely has to let go of the cleaning cloth. These birds go to the toilet very often, in some cases up to 15-20 times a day, and droppings have to be removed constantly. Owls can defecate anywhere and at any time - sitting, in flight, while playing, bathing, playing or sleeping. To be fair, it is worth noting that this litter is very easy to clean up, leaves no traces behind and does not have a strong odor.
The owl will require constant attention to itself - every day you need to monitor whether the pellet has moved away after eating, check the condition of the wings and nails. Most owls have a playful nature and constantly show their curiosity. It is for this reason that they should not be left unattended for a long time.
The barn owl is an unusual species of owl found on every continent except Antarctica; however, in our country its range is limited only to the Kaliningrad region.
Habitat
Barn owls prefer open spaces, namely: meadows with tall grass, swamps and ravines, banks of reservoirs and woodlands. Avoids mountainous areas and dense forests.
Appearance
The barn owl is a relatively large bird, reaching 40 centimeters in size, its wingspan is slightly less than a meter. The weight of the bird is 200 - 700 grams, mostly about 500 grams.
The color of the barn owl is white and red, with darker specks and stripes. The plumage of this bird is very thick, thanks to which it can live in northern, rather cold regions.
barn owl bird photo
A striking feature that distinguishes the barn owl from other birds is that it appears as if they have put a white “mask” on its face. The expression of this “mask” is such that some researchers have nicknamed the barn owl “the owl with the face of a monkey.” The popular names of the barn owl are also known:
- Midnighter;
- Phantom Owl;
- Screeching owl.
barn owl in all its glory photo
These nicknames show that the barn owl in the old days was associated with something mystical. The eyes of this owl, large and expressive, evoke an eerie feeling.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Leads a solitary lifestyle, active at night. Like all owls, the barn owl is a predator. The basis of its diet consists of small rodents - mice, voles, rats, gerbils, etc. Certain types of edible animals predominate in a given region. If necessary, the barn owl catches frogs, bats, lizards and invertebrates.
barn owl in flight photo
She flies out to hunt in the dark, and during the day she sleeps in a cozy nest, which is a hollow, hole, attic or other appropriate place. The barn owl does not build nests as such. Sometimes she occupies the empty nests of other birds. Silent flight and extremely acute hearing help the barn owl navigate the terrain and hunt.
barn owl night hunting photo
The bird's vision is also strong, thanks to which it sees well in the dark. The barn owl grabs its prey on the fly with sharp claws and takes it somewhere to a convenient place where it can be safely eaten.
Reproduction
The male usually looks for a place for a “family nest”. Usually this is a hollow, rotten stump or old nests of birds of prey. Having found one, he calls the female in a loud voice. After forming a family, she lays 4–6 eggs and incubates them for a little over a month. All this time the male brings her food.
barn owl chicks photo
The chicks hatch covered in soft white down. The male and female feed their babies. They stay with their parents for another three months. They begin to fly at the age of 50 days, then fly away and look for a new place of residence.
- The comparison with monkeys is explained not only appearance birds. When a barn owl sees a person approaching, it rises higher, stands on its long legs and sways on them left and right, making various grimaces. So she tries to scare the uninvited guest. Why not a monkey? If a person gets too close, the barn owl will usually fly away.
- The barn owl has a well-known habit - it silently approaches a person from behind and suddenly appears right in front of him. Here anyone would be scared, especially if the meeting took place at dusk. can click its beak loudly. All this only increases the feeling of horror for an unprepared observer.
Lifespan
In the wild, the barn owl lives for about 2 years.
- Class - Birds
- Order - Owls
- Family - Barn owls
- Genus - Barn owls
- Species - Barn owl
Barn owl (lat. Tyto alba) – predatory bird of the barn owl family (Tytonidae) of the order Strigiformes, called the “white lady” for its unusual and mysterious appearance. Her snow-white facial disc is heart-shaped, which distinguishes her from other owls.
The barn owl flies completely silently, outwardly resembling a real little white ghost, terrifying the rodents helpless in front of it. For this reason, European farmers love it very much. In Germany on the roofs of houses in rural areas Even special “birdhouses” are arranged for her, called Eulenlochs (German: Eulenloch), which beneficial birds enjoy using.
In the Middle Ages, it was customary to nail a stuffed animal of this bird on the entrance door.
It was believed that in this way one could protect oneself from fires and accidental lightning strikes. The cry of a barn owl was regarded as good news about the birth of a new little man, although in some regions it is still considered as a harbinger of someone's death.
The European population of barn owls currently numbers approximately 200 thousand pairs.
Behavior
Barn owls are common on all continents except Antarctica. They prefer to settle in open spaces, heather heaths and fields, where small rodents abound, which form the basis of their diet. In rural areas, these birds willingly settle near human habitation, choosing the darkest nooks and crannies of various buildings, including abandoned buildings and dovecotes, for nesting.
Barn owls are true patriots and are very attached to their native places.
Having settled, they drive away strangers with cries and fiercely defend their territory from any encroachment. They devote a lot of time to cleaning their feathers and keeping their nest clean.
Barn owls fly out to hunt at dusk and hunt until dawn. They are especially active when the moon is bright. Their visual acuity is 100 times greater than human visual acuity. In addition, owls have unusually fine hearing, allowing them to find prey even in pitch darkness.
The menu of barn owls is dominated by various small rodents - mice, rats and. If the amount of usual food is insufficient, they begin to feed on frogs, insects, reptiles and small birds. The predator silently flies up to the intended victim and falls on top of it like a stone, instantly killing it with its sharp claws. The prey is swallowed whole. The owl eats a particularly large trophy, pecking off one piece at a time. She regurgitates undigested remains (feathers, bones, fur and claws) in the form of pellets.
Reproduction
Being monogamous birds, barn owls mate once in a lifetime. Spouses constantly show each other signs of attention and demonstrate their care in every possible way. The mating season begins in February, when the male brings his prey to the female as a wedding gift.
The male always searches for a secluded place for the nest. At the end of April, the female lays eggs directly on the bare floor or on a small layer of pellets. In years when there are especially many rodents, barn owls can give birth to not one, but two litters. Usually there are 3-6 eggs in a clutch. Incubation lasts from 30 to 34 days.
The eggs are incubated by the female alone, and the male brings her food. Owls always hatch only at night and at two-week intervals.
At the beginning of their lives, chicks cannot swallow food whole, so the mother opens them with a small piece of meat and feeds them until they grow a little.
At 2 weeks of age, they are covered in baby fluff, and each of them eats 5 mice daily. To feed the younger generation, the female also begins to fly out to hunt.
Upon reaching 40 days of age, the owlets approach the edge of the nest and begin to intensively train their wings, and after another 20 days they begin to fly. If there is a shortage of food, older owlets kill and eat their younger brothers.
The chicks look like small white fluffy buns. At two months, children's down changes to adult plumage, after which they leave their native nest. Mortality among them is very high, so less than 40% of chicks survive to one year.
Description
The body length of an adult is 33-35 cm with a wingspan of 85-93 cm. The birds weigh 320-380 g. The upper part of the body is yellowish-brown with small white and black-brown spots. The lower part is white with small dark specks.
The flight feathers of the long and narrow wings are reddish with dark speckles. The facial plumage forms a characteristic heart-shaped facial disc. The beak is sharp, strongly curved down. Small dark eyes provide excellent vision.
The legs are long and well adapted for grasping prey. The fingers are armed with sharp hooked claws.
The average lifespan of barn owls is about 2 years.
Unusual appearance barn owls
noticeably distinguishes it from other owls. To be convinced of this, one glance at the bird’s face is enough. Some compare it with a mask, others with the face of a monkey, and for others the facial corolla of feathers is associated with a heart. Among the common people, the barn owl has many nicknames - and ghost owl, And night owl, And screeching birds a, and barn owl. Each of the names appears in various folk legends about this colorful bird.
Appearance of a barn owl
These birds are colored in a reddish tint, with ashy inclusions and dark spots. The head has a round shape, the muzzle is strongly flattened, the body is slender, the plumage is fluffy and soft. An owl's eyes are large and expressive, so once you meet a barn owl once, you will never forget it, especially if the meeting happens in a twilight forest and suddenly.
barn owl has a body length of 30 - 40 centimeters, and its wingspan reaches almost a meter. The structure of the owl's hearing apparatus is interesting - one ear is located on the forehead, and the other in the nose area. Such asymmetry only contributes to a better perception of the sounds of a living victim.
What is characteristic is that the bird can fly without making any noise at all. And having flown up, it appears before the eye with sharpness and surprise. Any ghost will seem like a funny parody if a barn owl scares you.
The name of a bird from the order Owls is telling. The name “barn owl” is explained by the bird’s hoarse voice. The sounds coming from her throat resemble a human cough with hoarseness. The owl is also endowed with the ability to produce loud clicks with its beak, instilling fear in forest tourists.
Barn owl habitats
This bird is common on every continent of the earth, naturally, excluding Antarctica, because even such plumage, like barn owls, is not able to save it from the harsh cold of the icy region. As for our country, these owls inhabit only the Kaliningrad region.
Southeast Asia, Madagascar and Africa can boast of the preservation of relict representatives of the barn owl genus. They are distinguished by their truly gigantic size. Among various types The largest number of these owls is the barn owl, which can be found in Australia, America, New Guinea, Asia, the East, Africa, the Russian Federation and Europe.
Details from the life of a barn owl
Like other representatives of the order of owls, the barn owl is a true winged predator that prefers to get food in the dark. The advantages of night hunting are the silent flight and the presence of special auditory receptors. During the daytime, the bird sleeps in the shade, in cool and secluded places.
During flight, the barn owl often changes altitude to better survey its territory and find food or set up an ambush. If she encounters a relative in her personal domain, she will immediately launch a terrifying attack and drive the stranger away. When preventative actions do not work, the bird actively beats the trespasser with its powerful paws.
What does this owl prefer? She happily feeds on field mice, small birds, moles, shrews, insects, hamsters, frogs and other amphibians. The chosen victim will no longer be able to escape from the barn owl’s excellent hunting instinct, keen hearing and keen eye. The predator is able to grab prey on the fly, tenaciously pinching it with its claws. Then she takes it to a place where she can leisurely feast on the meat.
Since barn owls are excellent at catching mice, they bring great benefit to people with this natural activity. Mice are known to gnaw through the walls of houses and various food storage facilities and carry dangerous diseases, so an excessive increase in their population is successfully controlled by owls.
A significant feature is that human activity has an extremely beneficial effect on the life of barn owls. They do not like dense forests and mountainous terrain and often settle near residential buildings. Partial deforestation and the establishment of agriculture only help the birds to become more widespread.
Barn owl breeding
The search for a place for a nest is carried out by the male individual. If the female approves of the proposed option and considers that the proposed site will be an excellent place for their future chick, then the barn owls mate, giving birth to a new generation.
An owl's clutch can consist of 4 or 6 eggs, which need to be incubated for more than one month. The chicks are born covered with whitish fluff; they are funny and clumsy. Parents feed and care for the owlets for 3 months. Then they leave their father’s nest and lead an independent existence.
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