The similar names, Barn Owl and Barred Owl, frequently lead to confusion for nature enthusiasts attempting to identify them. Despite the slight phonetic similarity, these two birds belong to separate families and exhibit distinct behaviors and physical characteristics. Understanding the differences in their appearance, preferred habitats, and vocalizations is the most reliable way to accurately tell them apart. This guide focuses on the details that distinguish the pale Barn Owl from the stockier, forest-dwelling Barred Owl.
The Barn Owl: Appearance and Environment
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is readily recognized by its delicate, pale coloration, often appearing strikingly white or light cinnamon-buff on its underside. Its most defining feature is the distinctive, heart-shaped facial disc, which acts as a sophisticated sound funnel to locate prey in low light. Unlike many other owl species, the Barn Owl’s eyes are dark, appearing black, set within this pale facial structure. This species also possesses remarkably long, slender legs, which are often visible when the bird is perched or taking flight.
This owl species prefers wide-open spaces, such as grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields, where it can hunt small rodents like voles and mice. The Barn Owl’s common name stems directly from its tendency to utilize human-made structures for nesting and roosting. They frequently take up residence in abandoned barns, silos, church steeples, and other quiet, sheltered cavities.
The Barn Owl’s primary diet consists of small mammals, making it highly beneficial for natural pest control in agricultural areas. Its hunting style involves low, buoyant flights over open ground, often gliding just above the vegetation to listen for rustling sounds. Their flight is exceptionally silent due to specialized feather structures, allowing them to capture prey completely unaware.
The Barred Owl: Appearance and Environment
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) presents a much different profile, being a larger, stockier bird with a distinctly round head that lacks the prominent ear tufts seen on many other owl species. Its eyes are a deep, dark brown, which, like the Barn Owl, gives it a softer expression. The plumage is a mix of mottled brown, white, and gray, providing excellent camouflage within a forested environment.
The species is named for the distinctive pattern on its feathers, which features horizontal bars across the chest and upper breast. This is in contrast to the vertical, streaked pattern that runs down the owl’s belly and lower abdomen. The Barred Owl is strongly associated with dense, mature woodlands, often favoring areas with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees.
They are particularly common in riparian zones, choosing forests situated near rivers, swamps, or other water sources. Their reliance on large, old-growth forests that provide suitable tree cavities for nesting differentiates them from the Barn Owl’s open habitat preference. Their diet is more varied than the Barn Owl’s, encompassing a wider range of prey, including small mammals, birds, amphibians like frogs, and reptiles.
Primary Differences in Appearance and Sound
Appearance Differences
The most immediate visual difference between the two species lies in the facial structures, which are the primary identification features when a bird is perched. The Barn Owl’s face is a smooth, pale heart-shape, whereas the Barred Owl’s face is large and round, resembling a classic dinner plate. The overall coloration provides a clear contrast, with the Barn Owl appearing strikingly white or pale buff, while the Barred Owl is heavily mottled in brown and gray tones. The plumage patterns also offer reliable separation in the field, as the Barred Owl exhibits distinct horizontal bars on its chest and vertical streaks below. This contrasted barring is completely absent on the uniformly pale chest of the Barn Owl. While both species possess dark eyes, the shape of the head remains the most reliable visual clue, with the Barn Owl’s specialized facial disc enhancing its auditory hunting capabilities.
Vocalization Differences
A definitive distinction can be made through sound, as their vocalizations are dramatically different and non-overlapping. The Barred Owl is famous for its distinctive, loud, eight-syllable hooting call, often phonetically transcribed as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”. This complex series of resonant hoots is used for territorial defense and pair bonding. In contrast, the Barn Owl does not produce the classic hooting sound at all, instead relying on a repertoire of non-hooting vocalizations. These include harsh, drawn-out hisses, rasping snores, and loud, sustained shrieks that can sound startling in the darkness. This high-pitched scream is typically used when defending a nest site or during courtship.