Birds
Barn owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl has an unmistakable white, heart-shaped facial disc and golden plumage that seems to glow in the dark. It flies in a silent, ghostly manner and hunts mostly small rodents.
from€85,40
In short
The barn owl (Tyto alba) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It favours open country — farmland, meadows, agricultural land — and nests in barns, belfries, cavities and nest boxes. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: view the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the barn owl live?
It favours open country — farmland, meadows, agricultural land — and nests in barns, belfries, cavities and nest boxes. Its acute hearing, amplified by the facial disc, lets it locate prey in total darkness.
Is the barn owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern (LC) with a stable population. Locally it is affected by the loss of nest sites, pesticides and road collisions.
Facts about the barn owl
- The heart-shaped facial disc works like a dish for its hearing.
- It can catch prey in total darkness guided by sound alone.
- Its flight is almost silent thanks to fringed-edged feathers.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Tyto alba (Least Concern) · BirdLife International
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.