The Easy Guide to Barn Owls

From the people who watch them live. A free book about Britain's silent night hunter.

About this guide

Part one: Getting to know the Barn Owl

• Chapter 1Meet the Barn OwlThe pale ghost of the British countryside
• Chapter 2Where the Barn Owl Fits InTwo families of owls, and one very unusual face
• Chapter 3What a Barn Owl Looks LikeColour, size and how to tell males from females
• Chapter 4Built for the NightSilent wings, sharp ears and eyes that gather light
• Chapter 5The Voice and Body Language of a Barn OwlScreeches, snores, hisses and a few very odd dances

Part two: Life through the year

• Chapter 6A Year in the Life of a Barn OwlThrough the seasons in the British countryside
• Chapter 7How a Barn Owl HuntsPatience, precision and a very good pair of ears
• Chapter 8What Barn Owls EatVoles, shrews, mice and the story told by a pellet
• Chapter 9Home Ranges, Roosts and HabitatWhere Barn Owls live, and what they need to stay there
• Chapter 10Courtship and Pairing UpHow Barn Owls choose and keep a mate
• Chapter 11Nests, Eggs and IncubationHow a family gets started
• Chapter 12Growing UpFrom a pink hatchling to a full grown owl in about ten weeks

Part three: Survival, people and owl watching

• Chapter 13Survival, Dangers and NumbersWhy life is short for most Barn Owls, and how many there are
• Chapter 14History, Law and FolkloreGhosts, superstitions and the rules that protect Barn Owls today
• Chapter 15Helping Barn OwlsPractical ways to make a difference, from rough grass to nest boxes
• Chapter 16Watching Barn OwlsWhere to go, what to look for and how to be a good visitor

Part four: On camera and in the field

• Chapter 17The Nest Cam DecoderWhat you are actually watching, and what it all means
• Chapter 18Ringed Owls: Meet Mia, Buster, LK and 3FWhat a handful of little rings can tell us about my own owls, and about the species
• Chapter 19Owl ID and SoundsTelling Britain's owls apart by sight and by ear

Part five: More about owls

• Chapter 20Barn Owls Around the WorldA quick tour of a very widely travelled bird
• Chapter 21Myths, Mix Ups and Quick AnswersClearing up some common questions
• Chapter 22Over 100 Barn Owl FactsQuick answers to the questions people ask most
• Chapter 23Keep ExploringWhere to go next
• GlossaryGlossaryA few useful words

What is new

• September 2026: Edition 1.0. The first full edition, with 23 chapters, a glossary, the Nest Cam Decoder and the story of Mia and Buster.
• Coming soon: printable cheat sheets for male and female clues, the Barn Owl year and the diet.