Barn Owl
Barn Owls
Barn Owls are very distinctive birds. Conveniently, they feed at dawn and dusk, as well as at night, providing great opportunities for some magic birdwatching moments as they quarter fields and rough grass in search of rodents. Although the classic description would be ‘ochre brown above and white below’, there is quite a bit of variation in plumage, with some birds being almost white. Barn Owls are a Schedule 1 species and it is illegal to look in nest boxes without a special licence.
Barn Owl young
Barn Owl eggs
Nesting Information
- Special nest box. See The BTO Nest Box Guide by Chris du Feu
- Height At least 4 m above ground.
- No nest is made
- Egg-laying starts between early March and mid September. 1 or 2 broods.
- 4 to 7 eggs.
- Incubation 32-34 days
- Nestlings fledge after 56-75 days.
More facts about this species
For more information about Barn Owls, see the BTO’s BirdFacts and Wider Countryside Report.
