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American Barn Owl

Silhouette OwlsOwls
American Barn OwlTyto furcata
  • ORDER: Strigiformes
  • FAMILY: Tytonidae

Basic Description

Ghostly pale and normally strictly nocturnal, American Barn Owls are silent predators of the night world. Lanky, with a whitish face, chest, and belly, and buffy upperparts, this owl roosts in hidden, quiet places during the day. By night, they hunt on buoyant wingbeats in open fields and meadows. You can find them by listening for their eerie, raspy calls, quite unlike the hoots of other owls.

More ID Info
image of range map for American Barn Owl
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Find This Bird

Many people’s first sighting of an American Barn Owl is while driving through open country at night—a flash of pale wings in the headlights is usually this species. These owls also often live up to their name, inhabiting barns and other old, abandoned buildings, so keep an eye out for them there. American Barn Owls don’t hoot the way most other owls do; you can listen for their harsh screeches at night.

Other Names

  • Lechuza Común Americana (Spanish)
  • Effraie d'Amérique (French)

Backyard Tips

Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. Make sure you put it up well before breeding season. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young. Find out more about nest boxes on our Attract Birds pages. You'll find plans for building a nest box of the appropriate size on our All About Birdhouses site.

  • Cool Facts