Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Barn Owls

The barn-owl family, Tytonidae, encompassing medium to large owls known for their distinctive heart-shaped faces and large heads, form one of the two primary owl families alongside the Strigidae, or true owls. With their impressive talons and strong legs, barn-owls span various habitats globally, although they are notably absent in some regions including northern North America and parts of Africa and Asia. They are particularly associated with agricultural landscapes and are mostly nocturnal and sedentary. Despite 20 living species among the family, such as the prominent common barn-owl, many remain enigmatic, with a handful being threatened and others already extinct, like certain island species. Barn-owls feature diversely, with 17 species in the main genus Tyto including subspecies, and the two species in the genus Phodilus, known as bay owls. While sharing similarities with Tyto owls, bay owls are distinguishable by their divided facial disc and ear tufts. Barn-owls are recognized for their silent flight, facilitated by specialized feathers, and their typically mottled light and dark plumage aids in hunting prey and camouflage. Over the eons, barn-owls have left a rich fossil record dating back to the Eocene. Despite extensive fossil evidence indicating a more diverse past, the connections within the owl order remain somewhat uncertain, with ongoing debates about taxonomy and relationships among various groups.

Regions

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
6
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

AccentorsAfrican & New World ParrotsAlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAuksAustral Storm PetrelsAustralasian WarblersBarn OwlsBearded ReedlingBee-eatersBuntingsBushshrikesBushtitsBustardsButtonquailCaracaras, FalconsCardinals & AlliesCettia Bush Warblers & AlliesChats, Old World FlycatchersCisticolas & AlliesCormorants, ShagsCoursers, PratincolesCranesCrows, JaysCuckoosDippersDucks, Geese, SwansFigbirds, Orioles, TurnagraFinches, EuphoniasFlamingosFrigatebirdsGannets, BoobiesGoldcrests, KingletsGrassbirds & AlliesGrebesGuineafowlGulls, Terns, SkimmersHerons, BitternsIbises, SpoonbillsKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLaughingthrushes & AlliesLeaf Warblers & AlliesLongspurs, Snow BuntingsLoonsMockingbirds, ThrashersNew World QuailNew World SparrowsNew World WarblersNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsNuthatchesOld World ParrotsOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOropendolas, Orioles, BlackbirdsOspreysOwlsOystercatchersPelicansPenduline TitsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPloversRails, Crakes & CootsReed Warblers & AlliesRollersSandgrouseSandpipers, SnipesShrikesSkuasStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSwallows, MartinsSwiftsSylviid BabblersThrushesTits, ChickadeesTreecreepersTropicbirdsTyrant Flycatchers, CalypturaVireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblersWagtails, PipitsWallcreeperWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWaxwingsWeavers, WidowbirdsWoodpeckersWrensYellow-breasted Chat

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.