Barn owl fact file

Welcome to this new instalment in our fact file series, thanks to our partnership with the Hawk Conservancy Trust as part of our ‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife campaign!

The purpose of our ‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife campaign is to show you how to nurture the nature around you, for the benefit of wildlife and yourself. 

So, let’s explore this fact file on the glorious barn owl and learn more about this elusive creature…

What are they? 

Birds of prey.

Scientific name: Tyto Alba

Family: Tytonidae

Where are they from? 

Barn owls enjoy living in a variety of habitats, including open countryside, farmland, grassland, wetlands, and roadside verges. 

You’re able to see barn owls across the UK – except for in the far north of Scotland, upland areas, and urban town centres.

Barn owls typically nest in hollow trees and buildings within low-lying areas, where they have access to plenty of prey.

What's their average life span?

Although their average lifespan is around 4 years in the wild, there have been barn owls recorded as living over 15 years of age!

How big are they?

Body length: 33cm-39cm

Wingspan: 80cm-95cm

Weight: 250g-350g

What do they eat?

Small mammals – primarily field voles, but also common shrews, wood mice, brown rats, and house mice. 

However, barn owls might eat amphibians, invertebrates, and bats, on rare occasions, as well. 

Did you know? Barn owls typically eat 3-4 prey each night.

Are they nocturnal?

Yes, barn owls are typically considered nocturnal – though you may spot them during the day, too as they are most active at dawn and dusk. 

Do they mate for life?

Yes! Barn owls usually mate for life – yet if one partner passes away, the remaining partner will find another mate.

Breeding season for the barn owl is based on food supply, which often runs from March until August. Each breeding pair usually produces two broods per year of 1-9 eggs, that are incubated (kept warm) by the female barn owl for around 31-32 days before they hatch. 

However, barn owl eggs hatch in the order they were laid (whereas most birds’ eggs hatch at around the same time) in two-day intervals – this is known as ‘asynchronous’ hatching.

Chicks then stay in the nest for around two months before fledging. 

How many are there?

It’s estimated there are approximately 4,000 breeding pairs of barn owls living in the UK. 

Three fun facts about Barn Owls

Fact 1 – A young barn owl is called an ‘owlet’ (how cute?!).

Fact 2 – One pair of barn owls and their family can eat around 1,000 rodents during a three-month breeding season.

Fact 3 – Male barn owls tend to be lighter in colour with a pure white underside, whereas females usually have dark brown feathers around their face and darker bars in their tail, with small dark spots on their underside.

Actions you can take to help the barn owl

You may be wondering what you can do to help barn owls, and other birds of prey, living in your neighbourhood – here are some ideas:

• Support charities doing incredible work to improve the outlook for an array of species, like Hawk Conservancy Trust.
• Learn how to identify birds of prey, so you can get to know them better.
• Get involved in wildlife recording projects, to assist in tracking wildlife populations. 

Learn more about the Hawk Conservancy Trust

Now you know a little more about the barn owl, let’s get to know the Hawk Conservancy Trust a little better. Through our ‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife campaign, we’re lucky to be working in partnership with amazing UK-registered charities making an incredible difference to wildlife. The Hawk Conservancy Trust’s mission is the conservation of birds of prey and their habitats – here’s a snapshot of their incredible work:

• Researching the threats facing bird of prey populations, in the UK and beyond, to better understand how best to approach their conservation actions. 
• Educating the public through flying displays at their centre and working at schools to actively encourage young people to care for the natural world.
• Rehabilitating ill, injured, or orphaned birds at their National Bird of Prey Hospital™ based in Hampshire.

Additionally, listen to our podcast episode ‘on location’ with the Hawk Conservancy Trust to find out even more about this amazing charity!  

If you’re inspired to act today to improve nature’s tomorrow, check out our articles about supporting biodiversity around waterways, how to conserve water, and guidance on beach cleans.