Owl, Barn

Barn Owl

Nonnetjie-uil
Tyto alba

Barn Owls are common near buildings and I have heard them calling at my home on more than one occasion.

The chicks below were photographed while ringing them a few years ago. The difference in feather development between the chicks is very noticeable. In most bird species the feather development of chicks will be very similar. This is so because the parents will only start brooding the eggs after all the eggs have been laid. But not so with Barn Owls. A clutch can consist of 5-6 eggs laid with two day intervals. The female will start brooding as soon as the first egg is laid. The first egg is therefore already 8-10 days in development by the time the last egg is laid. It also means that the first egg hatch long before the last egg and so the story continues. This then also explains the big difference in feather development as indicated in the photographs.