Where do barn owls like to live?

The Barn owl has been a regular vagrant to New Zealand from Australia for some time but was not recorded breeding in New Zealand until 2008, making this ghostly white predator of the night our newest native species.



The Barn owl is one of the most widely distributed land birds in the world. Overseas they occur in open woodland areas with a grassy understory or in open grassland farmland. They nest in cavities in trees, or in ruined buildings. Owing to their habit of feeding on small mammals they are a favourite of farmers and are often encouraged by erecting nest boxes to support their breeding.



Where can I see a Barn owl in New Zealand? The first Barn owls were recorded in New Zealand as long ago as the late 1940’s and there have been sporadic sightings of Barn owls all over the country since. However, most of these were single birds and, failing to find a mate, they died without establishing a breeding population.



But in 2008 all this changed. A pair of Barn owls was located breeding in a large puriri tree on a farm near Kaitaia in Northland. This is the only location in New Zealand where Barn owls are currently known to breed. Whether this population will expand is hard to say but if the abundance of their favourite food, mice and rats is an indication, the potential for them to colonise other areas of New Zealand is certainly there.



What other names does the Barn Owl have? Scientists call it: Tyto alba delicatula

Others around the world have many names for the Barn owl, including: the Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Death Owl, Hissing Owl, Hobgoblin or Hobby Owl, Golden Owl, Silver Owl, White Owl, Night Owl, Rat Owl, Scritch Owl, Screech Owl, Straw Owl, Barnyard Owl and Delicate Owl.