What do they look like?The barn owl is easily distinguished from other owls by it heart-shaped face, lack of ear tufts, long legs, and golden tan back and whitish colored chest and underside.
Where are they found?
Barn owls are found statewide at structures such as barns and silos. They live in open to partly open habitats such as grasslands, farmland, and fresh and salt water marshes. They nest in natural tree cavities or manmade nest boxes adjacent to fields or marshland.
What do they eat?
Barn owls eat mostly small rodents such as mice, voles, and rats. Their preferred prey is the meadow vole. They will also feed on small birds.
What other kinds of owls live in Maryland?
There are six other species of owls found in Maryland. They include: Eastern screech owl, great horned owl, barred owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, saw-whet owl. The snowy owl is an occasional winter migrant visitor.
I didn't know that!
A nesting pair of barn owls with six young may consume more than 1000 mice during a three month nesting period.
Drawing by: W.H. Henry