VU

Western Barn Owl

Tyto alba

UnknownVUNPLCEULCEU

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Western Barn Owls face significant population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that eliminate prey habitat and reduce small mammal populations. Modern farming techniques, including increased pesticide use and conversion of grasslands to monoculture crops, have severely impacted their hunting grounds. Vehicle strikes pose an additional major threat as owls hunt along roadways where rodent populations concentrate, while climate change is altering precipitation patterns that affect prey availability across their range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Western Barn Owls inhabit open agricultural landscapes, grasslands, and woodland edges where they hunt for small mammals in areas with scattered trees or buildings for nesting. They prefer mixed farmland with hedgerows, field margins, and rough grassland that support high rodent densities, typically avoiding dense forests and urban centers.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Tytonidae

EN

Itombwe Owl

Phodilus prigoginei

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Western Barn Owl classified as Vulnerable?
Western Barn Owl is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Western Barn Owls face significant population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that eliminate prey habitat and reduce small mammal populations. Modern farming techniques, including increased pesticide use and conversion of grasslands to monoculture crops, have severely impacted their hunting grounds. Vehicle strikes pose an additional major threat as owls hunt along roadways where rodent populations concentrate, while climate change is altering precipitation patterns that affect prey availability across their range.
Where does Western Barn Owl live?
Western Barn Owl occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Western Barn Owl?
The main threats to Western Barn Owl are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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