top of page
BARN OWL
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tyto Alba
HOUSE NAME: "Bowie"
HABITAT: Occurs worldwide in a variety of habitats depending upon the availability of prey.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
FUN FACT: Barn owls hunt primarily over open country and near farm buildings. Their flight is completely silent and enables them to drop on their prey unnoticed.
DIET: Classified as a “restricted” feeder, preying on small terrestrial rodents of field and marsh such as field mice and meadow voles. When necessary the barn owl can take birds, lizards, frogs, toads, and large insects. Other animals may be consumed depending on availability.
DESCRIPTION: Medium size, long-legged owl with distinctive large, heart shaped face. Golden-buff above, with variable light greyish “veil”, and finely streaked, mottled and dotted dark; white facial disc and under parts, sometimes with pale buff on sides of chest or fine spotting on breast and flanks; legs densely feathered; eyes dark; Broad, pointed wings. Body length 16”, wingspan 42”, weight 1 lb. Females are larger and darker than males.
FIND ME IN THE ZOO:
*Barn Owls are education animal ambassadors, their habitat is not viewable to public as they require privacy when not on program.
bottom of page