The barn owl is one of the most widespread species of owl, and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Barn owls prefer open country and are found most commonly in agricultural areas. They get their name from their habit of nesting in barns and other manmade structures.
Barn owls can be found across much of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. However, they are absent from extremely cold regions like the far north of Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Barn owls can adapt to a wide variety of habitats as long as there are open areas for hunting and structures for roosting and nesting.
Some key facts about the range and distribution of the barn owl:
- Found on all continents except Antarctica
- Most widespread in temperate regions
- Occurs across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia
- Absent from extreme northern latitudes and very dense forest
- Most abundant in agricultural areas with a mix of grasslands and human structures
In the sections below, we’ll take a closer look at the distribution of the barn owl in each major region it is found.
Where Barn Owls Live in North America
The barn owl occupies a large swath of North America. Its range extends from Central America up through most of the United States and into southern Canada.
In the United States, barn owls are found in every state except for Alaska and Hawaii. They are most common in agricultural areas west of the Rocky Mountains and along the Gulf Coast. Some states where barn owl populations are thriving include California, Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Barn owls can be found as far north as southern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in Canada. However, they are less common in dense boreal forests and high latitude environments.
Notable States and Provinces
Some parts of North America with large barn owl populations:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Oklahoma
- British Columbia
- Alberta
European Range of the Barn Owl
The barn owl can be found across most of Europe. It occupies a broad band spanning from the United Kingdom and Scandinavia in the north to the Mediterranean region in the south. Barn owls are found across continental Europe from Spain and Portugal in the west to Russia in the east.
They occur in suitable habitat across the following countries:
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Italy
- Spain
- Portugal
- Poland
- Ukraine
- Greece
- Russia
Barn owls are rare or absent from Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and northern Russia where the climate is harsher. They are also uncommon in dense old growth forests.
Key European Nations
Some European countries with large barn owl populations:
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- Italy
Barn Owl Distribution in Asia
Barn owls inhabit a broad swath of Asia as well. They can be found from the Middle East across southern Asia to Japan. However, they do not range nearly as far north in Asia as they do in North America and Europe.
Specific Asian regions and countries where barn owls are found include:
- Middle East (Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, etc.)
- Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.)
- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)
- East Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
Barn owls are rare or completely absent from Siberia, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asian rainforests. They reach their northern limit in Asia around Beijing, China and southern Japan.
Significant Asian Nations
Some Asian countries with substantial barn owl populations:
- India
- Pakistan
- Israel
- China
- Japan
Where Barn Owls Live in Africa
The barn owl can be found across nearly all of Africa except for the dense central rainforest region. They occupy habitats like grassland, shrubland, savanna, and agricultural areas from the northern tip of the continent down to southern South Africa.
Specific regions and countries where barn owls occur in Africa include:
- North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt)
- West Africa (Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria)
- East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania)
- Southern Africa (Botswana, South Africa)
Central African nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo have few to no barn owls given the predominance of rainforest. Barn owls reach their southern limit in South Africa.
Notable African Nations
Some countries in Africa with large barn owl populations:
- Morocco
- South Africa
- Kenya
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
Barn Owl Habitats in Australia
Australia hosts significant populations of barn owls as well. They are found across most of mainland Australia except for the dense tropical northern rainforests. Barn owls also occur in Tasmania but are absent from other surrounding islands.
The grasslands, shrublands, and agricultural areas of the following regions harbor barn owl populations:
- Western Australia
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Tasmania
Barn owls are most common in eastern Australia in a band running from Queensland down into Victoria. They become less common in arid central Australia.
Preferred Habitats and Environments
Now that we’ve looked at the barn owl’s distribution across continents and countries, we can summarize some of its most preferred habitats and environments:
- Grasslands – provide open hunting areas
- Farmland – mix of open areas for hunting and barns/outbuildings for nesting
- Rangelands – barn owls occupy ranchland and pasture
- Shrublands – hunting opportunities among open shrubs
- Rural areas – small towns and homesteads provide nest sites
Key factors barn owls need:
- Open areas for hunting
- Cavities for nesting (like barns, trees, caves etc.)
- Small rodent prey
- A temperate or tropical climate
Barn owls avoid:
- Dense forest – lacks open hunting spaces
- Polar and alpine areas – too harsh
- Cities – lacks prey and suitable nest sites
Conclusion
In summary, the barn owl has an extremely wide distribution and occupies every continent except Antarctica. However, it reaches its range limits in harsh northern latitudes, dense forests, and treeless areas lacking cavities for nesting.
This owl occurs across most of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia in habitats like grassland, farms, ranchland, and rural areas with adequate prey and nest sites. It achieves its highest densities in agricultural regions, but can adapt to many different environments. The barn owl’s flexible habitat use helps explain its status as the most widespread owl species.
References
- BirdLife International. 2016. Tyto alba. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22689409A93496471. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689409A93496471.en
- Marti, C. D. (1992). Barn owl. In A. Poole (Ed.), The Birds of North America Online. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: https://birdsna-org.auckland.idm.oclc.org/Species-Account/bna/species/brnowl
- Taylor, I. (1994). Barn Owls: Predator-prey relationships and conservation. Cambridge University Press.
- World Owl Trust. (2017). Barn Owl Tyto alba. https://www.owls.org/owl/Barn_Owl/
Continent | Key Countries | Preferred Habitats |
---|---|---|
North America | USA, Canada, Mexico | Farmland, grassland, ranchland |
Europe | UK, Spain, Germany, Italy | Farmland, shrubland, rural areas |
Asia | India, China, Pakistan, Israel | Agricultural areas, grasslands |
Africa | South Africa, Kenya, Morocco | Savanna, shrubland, rangeland |
Australia | Eastern Australia and Tasmania | Farmland, grassland, woodland edges |