Barn owl
Tyto alba
ok. 36 cmDorosły ptak
total length
total length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od końca dzioba do końca ogonaMeasurement: side
- Mass
- 430–620 gDorosłe osobniki
Barn owl — size comparison
The barn owl has a pale, heart-shaped facial disc, dark eyes and a delicately speckled back. It spends the day under cover, including in buildings and tree cavi
Silhouette comparison
Length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od końca dzioba do końca ogonaReference values · details in the profiles
Total lengthScale in cm
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approx. 36 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Barn owl — size comparison — facts and sources
The barn owl has a pale, heart-shaped facial disc, dark eyes and a delicately speckled back. It spends the day under cover, including in buildings and tree cavities, and hunts over meadows, fields and other open ground after dark. Its calls are chiefly hisses and screeches.
It searches for small mammals, particularly rodents. The facial disc feathers direct sound towards the ears, whose asymmetrical position helps pinpoint a rustle. The owl can therefore catch prey in very low light, relying on hearing during low flights or while waiting on a perch.
It regurgitates undigested bones and hair as pellets. Adults bring prey to chicks hidden at the breeding site, and young continue receiving food for a time after leaving, until they become proficient hunters.