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Perhaps no other animal is more a part of folklore and superstition than the owl, and
it is likely the behavior of the barn owl is one of the reasons. The barn owl likes to haunt old buildings like barns, church steeples or abandoned houses. In reality, having a barn owl roosting nearby is more helpful than haunting. While barn owls may be no wiser than the average bird, they are good at catching mice and other small rodents that can sometimes be a problem for people. You may have never seen a barn owl; they are nocturnal hunters, flying at dark over Ohio farm country in search of prey. Barn owls are rare in Ohio and are listed as a threatened species. |
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Barn Owl
Tyto alba
At-a-Glance
• Classification: Bird (Raptor)
• Diet: Small mammals (voles), small birds.
• Habitat: Farm areas, old fields, meadows, grasslands.
• Size: Length: 13-15 in.
• Weight: 14-25 oz.
• Wingspan: 3.5 - 4 ft.
• Ohio Status: Threatened
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Description
Barn owls have ear tufts and long legs. Their large bright eyes may be part of the reason owls appear to be wise. The barn owl's nicknames are, because of its appearance, the monkey-faced owl and white owl. They are a beautiful light tan color above and nearly snow white below.
Habitat and Habits
Barn owls depend on open grassland over which to hunt. However, because of the way much of Ohio is farmed today, there is little of this kind of habitat around. When there are few grassy meadows, there are few meadow voles. And when there are few meadow voles, there are few barn owls. When barn owls are not haunting an old building, barn, silo or chimney, they may roost and nest in a hollow tree. They will also use nesting boxes placed in barns just for them to use.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Barn owl young hatch from four to eight eggs about one month after they are laid. The eggs do not hatch all at the same time, but in the order they were laid, usually a day or two apart. A nest full of young barn owls ranging in size from the smallest to the largest is a comical sight. Both parents care for the young for two months, hunting up to two miles from the nest. |
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