The barn owl is 12.6-15.8 inches (32-40 cm) in length and has a wingspan of 3.5-4 feet (1.1-1.2 m).
It is golden-brown on its uppersides and grayish-white on its chest and belly. It has dark specks on both its underside and upperside. It has a heart-shaped white face with a ring of brown feathers around it. Its wings are rounded, and it has a short tail and long legs.
The barn owl doesn’t hoot like other owls; instead, it makes a raspy hissing or shrieking sound.
The barn owl is found in open areas, forest edges and clearings, farmland, and cities. It needs areas with open land for hunting.
The barn owl is often found roosting in tree cavities, crevices in cliffs, or on riverbanks. It also roosts in buildings such as barns.
The barn owl is a nocturnal hunter. It eats small mammals like mice, shrews, voles, and rats. It also eats birds.
It has a keen sense of smell, which, along with the ability to see in low light, helps it catch its prey. Its soft feathers also muffle sounds, so it can silently sneak up on its prey.
Males attract a mate with calls. They then chase the female. Both the male and female will then let out a series of screeching calls.
The female barn owl lays 5-10 eggs at a rate of one egg every 2-3 days. She lays her eggs on bare wood or stone in buildings, tree hollows, caves, or burrows.
The owlets hatch in 32-34 days, and both parents feed them. The owlets hunt on their own when they are about two months old.
Because the barn owl has a life expectancy of only about 2-4 years, females often have two broods a year.
When a barn owl is threatened, it spreads its wings and sways its head back and forth. It may also fall on its back and strike out at the threat with its feet.
The barn owl is sometimes called the monkey-faced owl.
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The barn owl is an occasional visitor to southeastern New Hampshire. It does breed in Massachusetts.
There is one breeding record from 1977 from Hollis, New Hampshire.
The barn owl is found from British Columbia, North Dakota, Michigan, and southern New England south to South America.
It is also found in Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia.
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