NCRRU - Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Barn Owl probably one of the most common owl in the Peninsula Malaysia now was formerly vagrant to this country. The availability of roost site and breeding site especially up north seen the increase of this species. I still remember back in my schooling day, a Barn Owl used to be on the roof of the school. Well that was my lifer before I find them more along plantation during one of my owling trip. 

Subspecies here know as the Tyto alba javanica is currently know subspecies to have occur and breed here. This subspecies is know from two form with much paler form and another which is more darker form. Both are equally distributed throughout the country.

As common as they are they do bring some problem such as airplane struck a Barn Owl previously. Still this species manage to assist such as biological control for rat in plantation. Here most time still perch hunting technique is commonly observed espeacially in location such as Kuala Gula. In Sekinchan in the evening, searching flight technique are observed. In some plantation such as those in the edge of Merapoh National park the searching flight technique was also noted on this species.

In Peninsula Malaysia, barn owl have know to brood as many as six once up to twelve nestling. Ricefield in Sekinchan know to seen nesting Barn Owl in rice barn. Many details of this species here in Peninsula Malaysia is still unknown.

The Barn Owl were very well distributed in the lowland covering many habitat including mangrove, plantation, park & garden, housing area and also town and city area. This is a rather successful here and hopefully their near cousin will make their way here too.  

Barn Owl
(Photo by Terence Ang)