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Range (North America occasionally)

North America; occasionally found far north as Massachusetts, and breeds from Long Island southward th agh Mexico. Washington, not rare P. R. Sing Sing, A. V.

Nest, in a tower or steeple, a hole in a tree or bank. Eggs, five to nine, 1.72 x 1.30.

The Barn Owl conceals itself so well during the day that, in my experience, it is a difficult bird to observe, even in localities where it is common. For this reason the capture of one of these odd-visaged birds is frequently the cause of much excitement over the supposed discovery of an animal entirely new to science, and which, by the local press, is generally considered half bird, half monkey! The only notes I have ever heard from the Barn Owl are a sudden wild, startling scream, a high, rapidly repeated cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, cr-r-ree, and, in captive birds, a hissing sound; but Captain Bendire mentions "a feeble, querulous note like quäek-quäek, or äek-äek, sounding somewhat like the call of the Night Hawk (Chordeiles virginianus), frequently repeated, only not so loud." "Of 29 stomachs examined, 1 contained poultry; 3, other birds; 17, mice; 17, other mammals; 4, insects; and 7 were empty" (Fisher).