SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › American Barn Owl

American Barn Owl

Tyto furcata

Bird · family Tytonidae · order Strigiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Barn Owl
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
45 states[3]
Typical length
6 in[4]

The American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) is a bird in the barn owl family, Tytonidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it as Secure worldwide[2], and it is native in 45 US states and territories[3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American Barn Owl a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on CITES Appendix II, which puts controls on international trade in the species[7]. State ranks differ a lot from place to place, and the table on this page shows the rank for each state[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[7] Appendix II

Where American Barn Owl lives

NatureServe lists this owl as native in 45 US states and territories, from California, Arizona and Texas in the West and South to New York, Vermont and Massachusetts in the Northeast[3]. It is also listed for the Midwest and Southeast, including Illinois, Ohio, Florida and Georgia[3]. On GBIF, people report it most often in California, Texas, Washington, Oregon and Florida, which reflects where observers look rather than how many owls live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank SUBWIVermont: native, state rank S1BVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S1MINew York: native, state rank S1NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2B,S2NMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S4NVWyoming: native, state rank S2WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3BSDIowa: native, state rank S1BIAIndiana: native, state rank S2INOhio: native, state rank S2OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S2B,S3NPANew Jersey: native, state rank S2B,S3NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S1CTRhode Island: native, state rank S1B,S1NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S4BCONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: native, state rank S3MOKentucky: native, state rank S3KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S2B,S2NWVVirginia: native, state rank S3B,S3NVAMaryland: native, state rank S2BMDDelaware: native, state rank S2DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S2B,S3NARTennessee: native, state rank S3TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNRNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S1DCOklahoma: native, state rank S3OKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S3MSAlabama: native, state rank S3ALGeorgia: native, state rank SUGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (45 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3Vulnerable
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
ConnecticutS1Critically Imperiled
DelawareS2Imperiled
District of ColumbiaS1Critically Imperiled
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaSUUnrankable
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS2Imperiled
IowaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS3Vulnerable
LouisianaS5Secure
MarylandS2BImperiled (breeding)
MassachusettsS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MichiganS1Critically Imperiled
MississippiS3Vulnerable
MissouriS3Vulnerable
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
NevadaS4Apparently Secure
New JerseyS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS1Critically Imperiled
North CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS2Imperiled
OklahomaS3Vulnerable
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
Rhode IslandS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS3Vulnerable
South DakotaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
TennesseeS3Vulnerable
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS3Vulnerable
VermontS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
VirginiaS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure
West VirginiaS2B,S2NImperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WisconsinSUBUnrankable (breeding)
WyomingS2Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records this owl in savanna, grassland, cropland and hedgerows, suburbs and orchards, cities, marshy wetlands, streamside areas and cliffs[10]. For breeding it favors open or partly open country such as thick grass fields, marsh and hayfields, often close to where people live[11]. It nests in places like barns, silos, attics, steeples, caves, cliff cracks, burrows and hollow trees, and it will use nest boxes[11]. Cliff and burrow nests are common in the western US but rare in the East[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size and diet

The American Barn Owl is a carnivore, meaning it eats other animals[12]. Its main prey is small mammals, voles above all, and it may catch birds when small mammals are hard to find[13]. NatureServe records a typical length of 16 cm (6 in)[4]. A typical adult weighs 490 g[14]. Most pairs raise one brood a year, but some raise as many as three[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 16 cm (6 in)
Typical adult weight[14] 490 g (17.3 oz)
Food habits[12] Carnivore
Migration[16] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

This owl is nocturnal, active at night, and crepuscular, active around dawn and dusk[17]. It does most of its hunting in the dark, beginning roughly 1 hour past sunset and ending roughly an hour ahead of sunrise[18]. Some populations stay put while others move short or long distances[16]. Northern birds may fly several hundred km south for winter[19]. Most nesting happens from late winter to early summer, with egg laying peaking in mid-April in the northeastern US[15]. GBIF records peak in January, April and May[20].

January: 19,209 recordsJanFebruary: 14,818 recordsFebMarch: 16,022 recordsMarApril: 19,077 recordsAprMay: 19,747 recordsMayJune: 15,119 recordsJunJuly: 14,552 recordsJulAugust: 16,314 recordsAugSeptember: 18,526 recordsSepOctober: 16,251 recordsOctNovember: 12,911 recordsNovDecember: 16,575 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January19,209
February14,818
March16,022
April19,077
May19,747
June15,119
July14,552
August16,314
September18,526
October16,251
November12,911
December16,575

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Barn Owl as present in 2 park units[21]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Florida[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Barn Owl endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, worldwide[2], though state ranks vary[8].
Where does the American Barn Owl live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 45 US states and territories[3]. It uses open country such as grassland, cropland, marsh and suburbs[10].
What does the American Barn Owl eat?
It mainly eats small mammals, especially voles[13]. It may take birds when small mammals are scarce[13].
How big is an American Barn Owl?
NatureServe records a typical length of 16 cm (6 in)[4]. A typical adult weighs 490 g[14].
When is the American Barn Owl active?
It is active at night and around dawn and dusk[17]. It hunts in the dark, beginning roughly 1 hour past sunset and ending roughly an hour ahead of sunrise[18].

Facts and sources

  1. American Barn Owl is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Barn Owl: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Barn Owl as native in 45 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 16 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) is a bird in the family Tytonidae, order Strigiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for American Barn Owl (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Barn Owl: California, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Florida. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Barn Owl: Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Cliff, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Urban/edificarian, Herbaceous wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Barn Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for American Barn Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 490 g (17.3 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for American Barn Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for American Barn Owl: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on phenology for American Barn Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on migration for American Barn Owl. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of American Barn Owl in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. NPSpecies park lists recording American Barn Owl as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.