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| − | '''Includes | + | '''Includes several potential species (see Taxonomy section)''' |
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| + | [[Image:Barn_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Roy_H|Roy_H}}<br/>Photo taken: Northeast [[Lincolnshire]], [[UK]].]] | ||
;[[:Category:Tyto|Tyto]] alba | ;[[:Category:Tyto|Tyto]] alba | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
A pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a white, heart-shaped face. Its head and upperparts are buff, and the underparts vary from white to chestnut, depending on subspecies. It is 33–39 cm in length, with an 80–95 cm wingspan. | A pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a white, heart-shaped face. Its head and upperparts are buff, and the underparts vary from white to chestnut, depending on subspecies. It is 33–39 cm in length, with an 80–95 cm wingspan. | ||
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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Widespread but in decline in many areas due to changes in farming practices. Breeds in the [[British Isles]] (except the north), [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to the Black Sea and north to the southern shores of the Baltic. In the south found along the north Mediterranean coast east to the Adriatic but very patchy in [[Greece]], also on all major islands including [[Crete]] and [[Cyprus]]. Rare and local in [[Israel]], [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]]. In [[ | + | Widespread but in decline in many areas due to changes in farming practices. Breeds in the [[British Isles]] (except the north), [[Iberia]] and [[France]] east to the Black Sea and north to the southern shores of the Baltic. In the south found along the north Mediterranean coast east to the Adriatic but very patchy in [[Greece]], also on all major islands including [[Crete]] and [[Cyprus]]. Rare and local in [[Israel]], [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]]. In north [[Africa]] breeds in [[Morocco]], northern [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]], also on the Egyptian coast and in the Nile Delta and Valley. Also breeds on [[Madeira]], the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Cape Verde Islands]]. |
All populations are resident but there is some dispersal of juveniles and vagrants have occurred in Jan Mayen, Norway, Finland and Estonia, also on the Azores. | All populations are resident but there is some dispersal of juveniles and vagrants have occurred in Jan Mayen, Norway, Finland and Estonia, also on the Azores. | ||
| − | Also widespread in the | + | Also widespread in the [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and [[Australia]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
About 8 races have been described from the Western Palearctic. Some are separable on marked differences in plumage and others on range. Nominate ''alba'' from Western and Southern Europe and the Western Canary Islands is pale above and white below, while ''guttata'' from Central and Eastern Europe (has also been recorded from Britain) is much greyer above and buff to chestnut below. ''T. a. ernesti'' from Corsica and Sardinia resembles ''alba'' but is even paler above as is the large race ''erlangeri'' from North Africa, Arabia, Crete and Cyprus which also differs in its bare tarsi and toes. The main African race, ''affinis'' intergrades with erlangeri in southern Egypt and resembles guttata but is larger with deeper colouration and more heavily marked upperparts. The Madeiran race ''schmitzi'' resembles ''affinis'' but is smaller with more distinctly spotted and darker underparts, ''gracilirostris'' from Fuertaventura, Lanzarote and Allegranza in the eastern Canary Islands is very similar but even darker below and has more slender bill and legs. Confined to Cape Verde Islands is the race ''detorta'', like guttata but deeper orange below and more distinctly spotted above with thinly feathered legs. | About 8 races have been described from the Western Palearctic. Some are separable on marked differences in plumage and others on range. Nominate ''alba'' from Western and Southern Europe and the Western Canary Islands is pale above and white below, while ''guttata'' from Central and Eastern Europe (has also been recorded from Britain) is much greyer above and buff to chestnut below. ''T. a. ernesti'' from Corsica and Sardinia resembles ''alba'' but is even paler above as is the large race ''erlangeri'' from North Africa, Arabia, Crete and Cyprus which also differs in its bare tarsi and toes. The main African race, ''affinis'' intergrades with erlangeri in southern Egypt and resembles guttata but is larger with deeper colouration and more heavily marked upperparts. The Madeiran race ''schmitzi'' resembles ''affinis'' but is smaller with more distinctly spotted and darker underparts, ''gracilirostris'' from Fuertaventura, Lanzarote and Allegranza in the eastern Canary Islands is very similar but even darker below and has more slender bill and legs. Confined to Cape Verde Islands is the race ''detorta'', like guttata but deeper orange below and more distinctly spotted above with thinly feathered legs. | ||
| − | Many other races exists in the remaining part of its range. Race ''detorta'' may warrent species recognition, as also possible for some other races (e.g. ''deroepstorffi'' from the Andamans). Closely related to, and sometimes considered to include, the [[Ashy-faced Owl]] from the West Indies | + | Many other races exists in the remaining part of its range. Race ''detorta'' may warrent species recognition, as also possible for some other races (e.g. ''deroepstorffi'' from the Andamans). Closely related to, and sometimes considered to include, the [[Ashy-faced Owl]] from the West Indies. |
| + | König and Weick in their Owl monograph has split the Barn Owl into several species, which may end up being accepted by other authorities: | ||
| + | *Common Barn Owl; Europe, Africa, Asia to [[India]] and [[Malaysia]] | ||
| + | *American Barn Owl; North and South America | ||
| + | *Curacao Barn Owl; the island of [[Curacao]] | ||
| + | *Lesser Antilles Barn Owl; [[Dominica]] and [[St. Vincent]] to [[Grenada]] | ||
| + | *Galapagos Barn Owl; islands in [[Galapagos]] | ||
| + | *Cape Verde Barn Owl; the [[Cape Verde]] Islands | ||
| + | *Sao Tome Barn Owl; [[Sao Tome]] Island | ||
| + | *Andaman Barn Owl; [[Andaman]] Islands | ||
| + | *Australian Barn Owl; Australia, [[New Zealand]], and parts of [[Indonesia]] and [[Polynesia]] | ||
| + | *Boang Barn Owl; Tanga group of [[Bismark Archipelago]] | ||
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| + | In a chapter by Wink et al. included in the book is a comment that the American forms need further study and that further splitting may be in order. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Open country with some trees or rocky outcrops for nesting. In Europe now found mainly on farmland with copses, areas of rough grassland and hedgerows. Often nest in old farm buildings, churches and ruins. | Open country with some trees or rocky outcrops for nesting. In Europe now found mainly on farmland with copses, areas of rough grassland and hedgerows. Often nest in old farm buildings, churches and ruins. | ||
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<flashmp3>Tyto alba (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Tyto alba (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Tyto alba (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Tyto alba (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | # König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2 | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Tyto+alba}} | {{GSearch|Tyto+alba}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tyto]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tyto]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | ||
Revision as of 00:04, 13 January 2009
Includes several potential species (see Taxonomy section)
- Tyto alba
Identification
A pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a white, heart-shaped face. Its head and upperparts are buff, and the underparts vary from white to chestnut, depending on subspecies. It is 33–39 cm in length, with an 80–95 cm wingspan.
Distribution
Widespread but in decline in many areas due to changes in farming practices. Breeds in the British Isles (except the north), Iberia and France east to the Black Sea and north to the southern shores of the Baltic. In the south found along the north Mediterranean coast east to the Adriatic but very patchy in Greece, also on all major islands including Crete and Cyprus. Rare and local in Israel, Syria and Iraq. In north Africa breeds in Morocco, northern Algeria and Tunisia, also on the Egyptian coast and in the Nile Delta and Valley. Also breeds on Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands.
All populations are resident but there is some dispersal of juveniles and vagrants have occurred in Jan Mayen, Norway, Finland and Estonia, also on the Azores.
Also widespread in the North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Taxonomy
About 8 races have been described from the Western Palearctic. Some are separable on marked differences in plumage and others on range. Nominate alba from Western and Southern Europe and the Western Canary Islands is pale above and white below, while guttata from Central and Eastern Europe (has also been recorded from Britain) is much greyer above and buff to chestnut below. T. a. ernesti from Corsica and Sardinia resembles alba but is even paler above as is the large race erlangeri from North Africa, Arabia, Crete and Cyprus which also differs in its bare tarsi and toes. The main African race, affinis intergrades with erlangeri in southern Egypt and resembles guttata but is larger with deeper colouration and more heavily marked upperparts. The Madeiran race schmitzi resembles affinis but is smaller with more distinctly spotted and darker underparts, gracilirostris from Fuertaventura, Lanzarote and Allegranza in the eastern Canary Islands is very similar but even darker below and has more slender bill and legs. Confined to Cape Verde Islands is the race detorta, like guttata but deeper orange below and more distinctly spotted above with thinly feathered legs.
Many other races exists in the remaining part of its range. Race detorta may warrent species recognition, as also possible for some other races (e.g. deroepstorffi from the Andamans). Closely related to, and sometimes considered to include, the Ashy-faced Owl from the West Indies.
König and Weick in their Owl monograph has split the Barn Owl into several species, which may end up being accepted by other authorities:
- Common Barn Owl; Europe, Africa, Asia to India and Malaysia
- American Barn Owl; North and South America
- Curacao Barn Owl; the island of Curacao
- Lesser Antilles Barn Owl; Dominica and St. Vincent to Grenada
- Galapagos Barn Owl; islands in Galapagos
- Cape Verde Barn Owl; the Cape Verde Islands
- Sao Tome Barn Owl; Sao Tome Island
- Andaman Barn Owl; Andaman Islands
- Australian Barn Owl; Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Indonesia and Polynesia
- Boang Barn Owl; Tanga group of Bismark Archipelago
In a chapter by Wink et al. included in the book is a comment that the American forms need further study and that further splitting may be in order.
Habitat
Open country with some trees or rocky outcrops for nesting. In Europe now found mainly on farmland with copses, areas of rough grassland and hedgerows. Often nest in old farm buildings, churches and ruins.
Behaviour
The diet includes small vertebrates, particularly rodents and is supplemented with small vertebrate and large invertebrate life.
Typical nest sites include tree stumps and cliff crevices, and 4-7 eggs are laid and incubated for 33 days. The male helps feed the young and the chicks can fly after 9-12 weeks.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Tyto alba (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
