Page 248 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

OWLS
Order Strigiformes Family Tytonidae Species Tyto alba
Barn Owl rounded, heart-
shaped facial disc

black eyes

white
underwings
pale buff upperside

big head

short tail
grey and black white
spots underside
thin dark bars
on outer
wings
IN FLIGHT
his medium-sized owl is sometimes about by day in
Twinter and often hunts well before dark in summer if it has
a family to feed.At such times, it allows excellent views, frequently
at roadsides where verges may provide almost the only remaining
rough grassland over which it can hunt for voles. It also frequents
marshy areas such as rough grassland beside reedbeds or along
embankments.There is little chance of misidentification, although
other owls appearing
“white” in car headlights at FLIGHT: light, agile, spring-like action with quite
night can be taken for it. quick, deep wingbeats; hovers and plunges head-first
VOICE Hissing, snoring into long grass with wings pulled back.
calls from nest, nasal hi-wit,
rolling, shrill shriek and SUBSPECIES
high squeal of alarm. T. a. guttata
NESTING Big hole in tree, (C and E
stack of hay bales, or Europe)
building; 4–7 eggs;
1 brood; May–June.
FEEDING Hunts from NIGHT HUNTER
perch or in low flight; Barn Owls are usually nocturnal deep
orange-buff
catches voles, mice, rats, but they may be seen before underside
and occasionally birds. sunset if they have young to feed.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread but sparse in SE,
SHORT-EARED OWL yellow much TAWNY OWL C, and W Europe; absent from
see p.243 eyes larger see p.239 Iceland, Scandinavia, and NE
dark wing whiter browner Europe. Breeds and hunts in open
patches above areas, from farmland to marshes
with reedbeds and moors, and
streaked
below young plantations.
SNOWY OWL Seen in the UK
see p.435 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 33–39cm (13–15 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 85–93cm (34–37in) Weight 290–460g (10–16oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan 5–10 years Status Declining
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