White-breasted Barn Owl

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Friday July 4th, 2008

White-breasted Barn Owl
Tyto alba alba

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As of February 2005.
Description	Medium sized owl, with relatively long legs, and heart shaped facial disk. Very variable in colouration depending on race, from pale birds with white under-parts and pale buff upper-parts; to some island races which have rufous buff under-parts and dark grey (gray) upper-parts. A variable grey (gray) veiling on the upper-parts seems to be characteristic of the species. Females tend to be generally darker and more heavily marked than males.
Size	29-44cm, 187-400g
Range	Europe, Africa, Middle East, India & South East Asia, Australia, Americas from Canadian border to Tierra del Fuego as well as many oceanic islands.
Habitat	Prefers open lowlands, particularly areas including rough grassland, but also plantations, heath, marsh, coastal regions, savannah. Generally avoids forests apart from some island races. Up to 4000m.
Food	Mainly small mammals, particularly rodents, but also small birds, reptiles, frogs and sometimes insects. Some populations may specialise on a particular prey species e.g. palm rats in Malaysian palm plantations.
Breeding	Normally monogamous. Has been recorded breeding in all months. Nest often in natural cavity in a tree trunk, stump or branch, as well as on cliffs and in caves. Frequently uses artificial sites, such as secluded ledges in buildings. Normally 3-7 eggs (can be up to 16) laid at 2-3 day intervals. Incubation begins with first or second egg, and lasts 29-34 days. 1-2 broods a year are normal, but 3 or more may occur when food is plentiful. The young leave the nest by about 10 weeks and become independent within another 8 weeks.
Call	Many vocalisations have been documented, including hisses, snores wheezes etc., however the song is a long drawn out tremulous “screech”, often given in flight. The female gives a similar call but deeper in pitch.
Status	Not globally threatened, but many island populations are threatened or vulnerable, normally from loss of habitat.
Comments	Described as one of the widespread land bird in the world, the Barn Owl is probably one of the most studied species of owl.
Races	Some authors describe up to 40 plus races of this species. Many Island races may prove to be distinct species.
T.a.alba	W & S Europe (including UK) and North Africa
T.a.guttata	C & E Europe
T.a.ernesti	Sardinia and Corsica
T.a.affinis (includes T.a.hypermetra and T.a.poensis)	Africa, S of Sahara
T.a.stertens	Indian sub-continent, SC China, Vietnam, S Thailand
T.a.thomensis	Sao Thome Island
T.a.deliculata (includes T.a.lulu)	Australia and S Pacific Islands
T.a.pratincola (includes T.a.lucayana and T.a.bondi)	S Canada to Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda & Hispaniola
T.a.guatemalae (includes T.a.subandeana)	Guatemala, W Columbia
T.a.tuidara (includes T.a.hauchecorni)	Brazil S of Amazon to Tierra del Fuego
T.a.furcata (includes T.a.niveicauda)	Cuba, Jamaica & Cayman Islands
T.a.contempta	Ecuador, Peru, W Venezuela and Columbia
T.a.schmitzi	Madeira and Porto Santo
T.a.gracilirostris	E Canary Islands
T.a.detorta	Cape Verde Islands
T.a.javanica	Malay peninsula, Greater Sunda Islands
T.a.erlangeri	Middle East, Cretea and Cyprus
T.a.meeki	E New Guinea
T.a.crassirostris	Tanga Islands
T.a.interposita	Santa Cruz Islands, Banks Islands, N Vanuatu
T.a.bargei	Curacao
T.a.hellmayri	E Venezuela to N Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago
T.a.puntatissima	Galapagos Islands
T.a.sumbaensis	Sumba Island
T.a.insularis	St Vincent, Grenada, Bequia, Union, Carriacou
T.a.nigrescens	Dominica

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