Birds of Ireland: Barn owl

Barn owls of all ages have a flat, white heart-shaped face and large, black eyes

A barn owl is the quietest of our owls. They do not hoot but may occasionally make a loud screech. Picture: Larry Cummins

Barn Owl | Scréachóg reilige | Tyto alba

A barn owl is about 33-36 centimetres long with a wingspan of 87-90 centimetres. They are a scarce breeding species found on farmland here all year round.

Barn owls are about the size of a jackdaw and both sexes look similar.  Barn owls of all ages have a flat, white heart-shaped face, large, black eyes, deep yellow-buff underparts with small dark and light flecks; their undersides are white and their legs are long with large, taloned feet. They look 'knock-kneed' when perched and they have no ear tufts. 

In flight a barn owl is silent, the look pale and their blunt head, short tail, and broad and round-tipped wings are visible. Their wingbeats are jerky and stiff. The glide and hover — their legs sometimes hang down when they are hunting. 

A barn owl is the quietest of our owls but occasionally it does make a loud screech. They do not hoot. Young barn owls make a hissing noise. 

Tip of the week

Practice with your new binoculars as often as possible. Look at objects at different distances and heights and try to focus on them as quickly as possible.

Many people find locating a bird with binoculars quite difficult at first — but with just a little practice it will become second nature.

The secret is to fix your eyes on the bird or object and then, without looking away from it, place the binoculars to your eyes. Being able to grip and raise your binoculars to your eyes without taking your eyes off the bird is very important.

Featured in Birds of Ireland: A field guide by Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody

• Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects.
• Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney.