Barn Owl

Barn Owl (Aluco flammeus, the Strix flammea of some naturalists), a fairly common British bird, building in churches, barns, ruins, and hollow trees. The adult male is about 14 in. long, facial disc nearly white, and defined by the outer feathers being tipped with brown; head and neck light buff with black and white spots; back and wings deeper buff, with grey, black, and white spots; tail buff, broadly barred with grey; under surface white, but fawn in young males and females. The barn owl is essentially a farmers' friend, for the number of rats and mice that one of these birds will devour would be almost incredible were it not established by the most conclusive evidence - examination of the pellets of undigested food cast up. This bird is also called the white owl from its light-coloured plumage, and is the screech-owl of popular superstition.