How To Identify Barn Owls

Setting up a barn owl nesting box from Barn Owl Boxes is a great way to enjoy nature, but how do you know if the owls have taken over your box and are actually using it? If you choose a barn owl box that has an infrared camera, you can see for yourself the miracle of a barn owl life cycle. However, if you simply have a wooden barn owl box with no camera, you may not know if the family has taken up residence. You may also want to know if there are other barn owls in the vicinity of your property.

Barn Owl Boxes offers you this identification guide to help you recognize barn owls when you see them.

• Barn owls are strictly nocturnal. It is highly unlikely that you will see a barn owl in the daytime. They only come out at night to hunt, so it is best to look for them around dusk or dawn. You may find them more readily and be able to see them better at these times, although they do hunt through the night.
• Barn owls are relatively slim. Some owls have a “chunky” appearance, but barn owls look “lanky.” Their wingspan is much greater than the length of their bodies and their torsos are slim in proportion to the rest of the body. They also have small, sleek heads without ear tufts.
• Barn owls have a very white face. One of the distinctive characteristics of the barn owl is its “ghostly” white face. This is one of the easiest ways to identify the barn owl, because most owls have dark marking on the face. The barn owl, however, has an apple-shaped white face that stands out as well as white underbelly and underside of the wings. The backs of the wings are marked with darker spots and grey feathers.
• Barn owls fly low. Unlike hawks and other predators, barn owls cruise relatively low to the ground. You will probably see them flying back and forth over an open area low enough to be seen clearly.
• Barn owls have a distinctive call. Barn owls are best located and recognized by their voices which give them their alternative name of “screech owls.” This raspy, screeching call is easy to recognize and is unique to the barn owl. If you hear this sound, barn owls are nearby!

Barn Owl Boxes can help you discover the wonderful world of barn owls with a quality barn owl box.