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Tytonidae - Barn Owls, Masked Owls, Grass Owls

There are 15 species of owl in this family. They are found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica.

They live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts.

The owls in this family have heart-shaped faces; long, flattened bills; long wings; long, rounded tails; and long legs with powerful talons. Their eyes are smaller than the eyes of the owls in the Strigidae family.

The barn owl is the only species in this family found in the United States. The ashy-faced owl, which was once thought to be a barn owl subspecies, is found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

  • The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl. It 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. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
    Barn Owl
    (Tyto alba)
    The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl. It 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. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
  • The African grass-owl is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
    African Grass-Owl
    (Tyto capensis)
    The African grass-owl is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
  • The Sulawesi masked-owl is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern
    Sulawesi Masked-Owl
    (Tyto rosenbergii)
    The Sulawesi masked-owl is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Barn Owl
Barn Owl

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

Barn Owl - Tyto albaLeast ConcernNorth/Central AmericaEuropeAsiaAfricaAustralia/Oceania

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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