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.