Eastern Barn Owl

Tyto javanica

Family: Bay Owls and Barn Owls · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 34–36 cm · Conservation: Not Evaluated

Range

Occurs from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia through the Indonesian archipelago to Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, and Oceania; on the Malay Peninsula south from roughly the Thai border.

Identification

A medium-sized owl with a distinctive white, heart-shaped facial disk and pale underparts. Proportionally large head, lacking ear tufts, with relatively small, dark-coloured eyes. Upperparts gold to buff, heavily marked with white and black. In flight, long legs and feet extend past the tail tip. Female is larger than the male with typically darker and more heavily spotted underparts.

Habitat

Urban structures including under bridges and abandoned buildings, and open-country habitats such as grassland and farmland.

Behaviour

Normally solitary. Hunts mostly at night; preys mainly on small mammals, especially rats.