Tytonidae

The bird family Tytonidae, including barn owls (Tyto) and bay owls (Phodilus), comprises one of the two main families of owls, the other being Strigidae (true owls). These medium to large owls have large heads, heart-shaped faces, and powerful talons. They inhabit various environments from semi-deserts to forests, favoring areas with agricultural activity. While the majority of the 20 species are poorly known, some, like the western barn owl (Tyto alba), are well-studied. Five species of barn owls are threatened, and some extinct island species are documented.

Barn owls are primarily nocturnal and non-migratory. Their distinctive heart-shaped facial disc helps amplify sounds for hunting, and their wing adaptations reduce noise while flying. They are generally darker on the back than the front, primarily orange-brown in color. Bay owls resemble barn owls but are smaller and have divided facial discs and ear tufts.

Barn owls are the most widespread landbirds, found on every continent except Antarctica, thriving in various habitats. They tend to be sedentary, often remaining in one location despite better foraging areas nearby. Dispersal distances vary, with individuals traveling significant distances across regions, especially in Europe and the Americas. They exhibit some migratory behavior in Australia, moving north in the dry season and south in the wet season. In recent years, barn owls have been successfully introduced to places like Hawaii, although this has raised concerns about their impact on native bird populations.

The barn owl hunts primarily at twilight or night, using its long legs and slender toes to forage in dense foliage and snow. It flies slowly, quartering the ground and hovering to locate prey, relying heavily on its acute hearing, aided by its asymmetrically positioned ears and facial disc. This owl can often be found perched on branches or posts to scan for food, particularly in oil palm plantations.

Its diet consists mainly of rodents, which can make up over ninety percent of its prey, with other small mammals, birds, lizards, and insects also included. In North America and Europe, voles are predominant, while in the Mediterranean and tropical regions, mice and rats are the main food sources. Barn owls adapt their feeding habits based on prey availability, acting as specialists in resource-rich areas and generalists where food is scarce.

Breeding patterns vary by region. In tropical areas, barn owls can nest year-round, typically during the dry season when rodent populations increase. In temperate climates, nesting occurs mainly from March to June. Egg-laying correlates with the availability of prey-rich foraging habitats, and an abundance of rodents can lead to multiple broods in a good year.