Barn Owl

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most threatened species of owl in Ireland and has recently been ‘Red-listed’ in the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland’. They are generally seen only at dusk or at night when they hunt a variety of small mammals such as Field Mice, House Mice,Bank Voles and Brown Rats. They are threatened in Ireland by; a loss of nesting sites, less rough grassland habitat, being hit by cars and trains, drowning in water troughs, increased use of pesticides and poisoning from pesticide contaminated prey.

Copyright Mike Brown

Barn Owl
Copyright Mike Brown

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most threatened species of owl in Ireland and has recently been ‘Red-listed’ in the ‘Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland’. They are generally seen only at dusk or at night when they hunt a variety of small mammals such as Field Mice, House Mice,Bank Voles and Brown Rats. They are threatened in Ireland by; a loss of nesting sites, less rough grassland habitat, being hit by cars and trains, drowning in water troughs, increased use of pesticides and poisoning from pesticide contaminated prey.

Copyright Mike Brown

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Screachóg reilige

Would you know a barn owl?

These owls are very easy to spot. They are a honey colour on top and very white underneath. They have a beautiful heart-shaped face and long legs. The barn owl has no ear tufts at all!


The barn owl likes to live near woodlands, ditches or anywhere it will find food. It likes farmlands beacuse it can eat the crops and animal feed. Usually, you will only see them at sunset. This is when they hunt for dinner. They eat mice, rats, frogs or even small birds.

Barn owls only hunt close to their nest. Often, they will stay with their partner for life.

Dangers for barn owls

The barn owl's natural habitat is grassland and hegerow. A lot of this habitat is cleared when new buildings are put up. Then the barn owl has to find a new home.

There are other dangers for barn owls. Many of them eat poisons put down by farmers by accident. They can even drown in animal water troughs.