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Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Not Evaluated

American Barn Owl

Tyto furcata

American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) — Owls of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists
Birds of CanadaBirds of the United StatesBirds of AlbertaBirds of British ColumbiaBirds of ManitobaBirds of New BrunswickBirds of Newfoundland and LabradorBirds of Nova ScotiaBirds of OntarioBirds of Prince Edward Island
By family
Owls of CanadaOwls of the United StatesOwls of AlbertaOwls of British ColumbiaOwls of ManitobaOwls of New BrunswickOwls of Newfoundland and LabradorOwls of Nova ScotiaOwls of Ontario
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The American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) is a member of the Tytonidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Strigiformes
  3. Family Tytonidae Barn Owls
  4. Genus Tyto
  5. Species furcata

Where it lives

Widespread

Quick facts

Family
Tytonidae
Order
Strigiformes

How to identify

Main colours Buff Grey White

Male vs female

Sexes look broadly similar and overlap heavily, but on average females are noticeably larger and darker/more heavily black-spotted with a richer reddish-buff wash below, while males tend to be paler and whiter with fewer or no spots underneath; ground colour is the most reliable plumage cue and size is the surest overall sign.

Juvenile appearance

Nestlings are covered in white down with the heart-shaped facial disc appearing soon after hatching; fledged juveniles closely resemble adults once the buff-grey-and-white plumage grows in.

Biology & behaviour

The American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) is a member of the Tytonidae family, within the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA widespread.

Songs & calls

American Barn Owl — Call, flight call

Recorded by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

Where does the American Barn Owl live?

The American Barn Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA widespread.

What family does the American Barn Owl belong to?

The American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) belongs to the Tytonidae family, in the order Strigiformes.

What sound does the American Barn Owl make?

1 real field recording of the American Barn Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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