barn owl

American  

noun

1. a yellowish-brown and white owl, Tyto alba, often inhabiting barns and other buildings.

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barn owl British  

noun

1. any owl of the genus Tyto , esp T. alba , having a pale brown and white plumage, long slender legs, and a heart-shaped face: family Tytonidae

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Etymology

Origin of barn owl

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barn owl

"This year has been completely different. I personally found barn owl numbers have increased dramatically. But there are still some areas in Cambridgeshire that have not found as many babies as I have," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

A giant barn owl, a type of rodent called a hutia, and a burrowing bee entered a cave.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2026

Bird experts say they have found the oldest barn owl ever recorded in Britain and Ireland.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2025

For those who struggle to tell a bushtit from a barn owl, the team has assembled resources to help distinguish between common local species and can answer individual questions via email.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025

There was also a slow woo-woo-woo sound from a barn owl hid out waiting for a mouse to make a mistake.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis