Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769)
Barn owl
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G5
State Rank: SU
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Data Deficient
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 32
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Nests in large hollow trees or old buildings (paticularly cement silos) in areas with extensive pasture or grassland or other open habitats such as marsh.
The barn owl is a medium-sized owl and is easily distinguished from the other owls in Georgia by its distinctive white heart-shaped facial disk. It has white under-parts, often spotted with black, and mottled tan and gray back and upper wings, which are often covered with small white and black markings. Females are larger than males and often have darker plumage, though there is an overlap in size between the sexes. Unlike the other large owls in the state it does not “hoot,” but vocalizes using a wide variety of screeches, hisses, and screams.
While the barn owl is normally easily distinguished from other owls in Georgia, it could be confused with the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), a rare wintering bird (October-March) that can be found in grassland and other open habitats. The short-eared owl is brown to grayish-brown with streaking on the breast. The female has a dark buff wash on the face and much of the body including the underparts. This in contrast to the white face and underparts of the barn owl. The short-eared owl also has a dark bill, yellow eyes, and dark triangular marking surrounding the eyes, whereas the barn owl has a clean white face with dark eyes and an ivory to pinkish bill.
In Georgia, the barn owl is usually found near open fields, areas of riparian vegetation, and marshes. It also uses urban habitats and other areas where abandoned buildings, especially tower-like structures such as church belfries and silos, make convenient nest sites and abundant rats make easy prey. This species is very rare to absent in heavily forested areas.
The majority of its diet consists of small rodents, a large percentage of which are rats, mice, and shrews. It has also been known to prey upon reptiles, amphibians, and small birds, with red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) cited as one of the most frequently found avian prey items.
Barn owls are typically monogamous. Males begin courtship by performing display flights in conjunction with advertising calls. Once established, pairs typically remain together for life, but barn owls will re-mate if their mate disappears. Nests are typically in hollow trees, abandoned structures, and occasionally in excavated burrows. It is likely that where there are suitable nesting sites and sufficient prey populations, barn owls can nest close to one another in some numbers. This species has been documented breeding in Georgia between March and December, but likely can breed year-round in the state allowing it to take advantage of seasonal fluctuations in prey availability. It has demonstrated the ability to adapt to changing conditions with a variable clutch size, with clutches of 10-12 eggs or more in good habitat. Eggs are laid at 2-3 day intervals and incubation lasts 29-34 days. Nestlings fledge at approximately 55 days, with the fledglings leaving the nest at night. Young remain dependent on parents for 3-5 weeks after fledging, after which they disperse.
Very few surveys have been conducted for the barn owl in Georgia, beyond Breeding Bird Atlas surveys (1994-2001) and limited monitoring of nest boxes. Surveys could be expanded to include old barns, silos, and abandoned buildings near open foraging habitat. Such surveys may be more effective if combined with a nest box program in suitable habitat across the state.
This species is found in much of North, Central, and South America, parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia, and in Australia. The barn owl was once a fairly common but local breeder in Georgia. Today it is considered rare to uncommon during the breeding season. Georgia breeding populations are believed to be resident year-round, but winter populations may be supplemented with birds that breed farther north.
Overall, grassland birds have shown sharp population declines due to habitat loss and alteration and it is very likely that the barn owl has declined along with many of these species. More efficient farming, a declining dairy industry, conversion of agricultural lands to pine plantations, loss of natural grasslands, fire-suppression, and the paucity of large trees with nesting cavities has probably reduced barn owl numbers. Collisions with automobiles has been noted as a major source of barn owl mortality, with some studies noting automobile collisions as the main cause of barn owl deaths.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Residential & commercial development | Human intrusions & disturbance | None |
| Specific Threat | Housing & urban areas | Work & other activities | None |
There appear to be fewer barn owls in Georgia today than during the early 1900s, however tracking population changes of nocturnal species, particularly this species, is difficult. During Breeding Bird Atlas surveys, this bird was confirmed breeding in only twelve locations. This small number of breeding confirmations is likely due to the fact that it is very difficult to detect during surveys and data were gathered in a very opportunistic way. Most of the confirmed nesting sites were in rural central Georgia in the Upper Coastal Plain and in the Piedmont in areas of pastureland near Athens and Madison. Old silos appear important in middle Georgia, particularly if the lower portions of the silo are closed, thus preventing access by land-borne predators. Reports of probable breeding occurred at several other locations and it is very likely that many individuals were overlooked due to this species’ nocturnal habits and secretive nature. The barn owl is probably found throughout the Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and much of the Ridge and Valley wherever sufficient foraging habitat and nesting sites are available.
The barn owl population is difficult to assess and accurate density or relative abundance data for Georgia is lacking. Presently there is no conservation program in the state specifically directed at this species. However, broad-scale conservation efforts, such as Farm Bill programs and state efforts aimed at bolstering populations of the northern bobwhite and associated songbirds and habitats, may benefit this species by providing foraging habitat. While these programs could provide foraging areas, they will not provide nesting cavities, and a nestbox program within areas with substantial habitat may be beneficial.
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Beaton, G., P. W. Sykes, Jr. and J. W. Parrish, Jr. 2003. Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds. 5th edition. Georgia Ornithological Society Occasional Publication No. 14.
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Bunn, D. S., A. B. Warburton and R. D. S. Wilson. (1982). The Barn Owl. Buteo Books, Vermillion, SD.
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Crawford, R. L. 1979. Analysis of barn owl pellets from Worth County, GA. Oriole 44:52.
French, T. W., and C. H. Wharton. 1975. Barn owls as mammal collectors in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. Oriole 40:6-10.
Greene, E. R., W. W. Griffin, E. P. Odum, H. L. Stoddard, and I. R. Tompkins. 1945. Birds of Georgia: Preliminary Check-list and Bibliography of Georgia Ornithology. Georgia Ornithological Society Occasional Publication No. 2. University of Georgia Press, Athens.
Hunter, E. B., J. H. Jenkins, and D. Quillian. 1949. The barn owl nesting at Bogart, Georgia. Oriole 14:17.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1988. North American Owls: Biology and Natural History. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
Marti, C. D., A. F. Poole, and L. R. Bevier. 2005. Barn Owl (Tyto alba), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.1
Wigh, R. J. 2010. Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Pp. 196-197 in T. M. Schneider, G. Beaton, T. S. Keyes, and N. A. Klaus, eds. The Breeding Bird Atlas of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens.
Tomkins, I. R. 1929. The barn owl nesting on the lower Savannah River. Auk 46:387.
Tomkins, I. R. 1946. Nesting of the barn owl on the lower Savannah River. Oriole 11:59-63.
Russell J. Wigh and Joe Burnam
J. Burnam, updated and modified BBA text: 7 November 2019
