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The Barn Owl Trust

Conserving the Barn Owl and its Environment

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About the Barn Owl

Ecological role and foraging behaviour

 
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Barn Owls are specialist birds and highly adapted to suit their ecological role as hunters of small mammals in open habitat and low light conditions. Although small mammals are taken by a wide range of predators including buzzards, kestrels, cats, stoats and weasels (as well as other owls), none of these hunt in the same way as Barn Owls.
Icon denotes an internal link to another pageAdaptations
 
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of good Barn Owl habitat
 
 
Although hunting from perches such as fence posts is frequent, especially in winter, hunting whilst flying is their main method. Typically, the owl will leave its roost site shortly after dusk and fly directly to one of its preferred hunting areas. Hunting usually consists of flying slowly back and forth across a patch of rough grass listening and looking downwards most of the time. When a small mammal is heard the owl hovers overhead concentrating intently on the source of the sound, pinpointing it and waiting for the best possible moment to pounce. The importance of hearing means that the bird is rarely more than three metres above the ground and whilst hovering over prey the owl may pause at about two metres before finally dropping into the grass. The final dive is usually face-first and at the last moment the head is thrown back and replaced by the feet with talons fully out-stretched.
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of Barn Owls flight-hunting
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of particular parts of the bird
 
 

Where suitable perches are available, a "sit and wait" or "post-hunting" method is also used - particularly in winter when energy conservation is important. Occasionally the bird will drop from its perch directly onto prey but more often it will switch to flight-hunting before the pounce. Hunting techniques vary according to habitat, ambient noise level, light levels, and wind. For example when hunting mice over bare ground, such as arable stubbles or sugar beat crops, the owl may see the prey very easily and pounce immediately. Compared to voles, mice are much more likely to see or hear the owl's approach. They are also faster moving and therefore much harder to catch.

Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of Barn Owls perch-hunting
 
 
 
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of Barn Owls with prey
 
 
 
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of small mammals
 
 
In Britain, every Barn Owl's home range is likely to contain a variety of predators that eat small mammals but none of these have an identical diet or hunting method. Although there is a good deal of overlap between species, there's little direct competition because the Barn Owl's ecological role is so unique. Short-eared owls hunt in a similar way but they are migratory and active mainly during daylight. Tawny Owls are mainly woodland birds whereas Barn Owls avoid hunting between closely spaced trees. Kestrels prey on small mammals in open habitats but because they hunt by sight they are restricted to daylight hours and prefer shorter vegetation.
 
 
Icon denotes a link to a picture slideshowPictures of Barn Owls, Little Owls, and Tawny Owls
 
 

In its ecological role, and in so many other respects, the Barn Owl is unique.

There is more information on this topic in the Barn Owl Conservation Handbook.

Icon denotes an internal link to another pagePellets, diet, and predator-prey relationships
 
 
 
 
© Copyright 2012 The Barn Owl Trust. Registered Charity No. 299 835
The Barn Owl Trust is dedicated to conservation & education and does not operate a visitor centre.
Barn Owl Trust staff and volunteers
Waterleat, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7HU
+44 (0) 1364 653026
info@barnowltrust.org.uk