STATUS IN OKLAHOMA: Nesting in hollow trees, buildings, caves, and cisterns, feeding in grassland. Now a rare resident throughout most of state, uncommon in Southwest; populations greater during years of high rodent populations; noticeable decreases during the 1970's.

"Oklahoma Bird Life" by: Frederick M. & A. Marguerite Baumgartner

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: The Barn Owl is a large owl with a white, heart shaped facial disc, dark eyes, and no ear tuffs. The legs of a Barn Owl are long with no feathers. The plumage is a sandy brown color with white and blue streaks, and the underparts are pale or white.

HABITAT:
The Barn Owl is a grassland species and it relies on open fields for hunting.

FEEDING HABITS:
A Barn Owl is a very nocturnal species that hunts over fields and grassland. It feeds mostly on the small microtine rodents.

NESTING:
The Barn Owl is a cavity nester and will take readily to man made structures. The Barn Owl is well known for using buildings, and church steeples as favorite nesting spots.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
The Barn Owl is considered an "endangered species" in Wisconsin,Iowa, and five (5) other Midwestern states, and it is considered as a species of "special concern" in South Dakota and Nebraska.