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The barn owl can be identified by its distinctive
white heart shaped face and white underparts. Its upper
wings, back and tail are a pale golden buff, flecked with
black, white and grey. Their characteristic call is a long
eerie shriek.
Favoured hunting habitat is rough grassland
which supports small mammals such as field voles that make
up 90% of the owls diet. Barn owls nest in holes in mature
trees, barns and out buildings. Breeding has been known
to take place in most months of the year. If food is plentiful,
two broods may be raised each year.
The Decline
The barn owl has declined by 50% in the
UK in the past 50 years. This decline can be attributed
to a combination of the following factors:--
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