Officials of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly rescued a barn owl that had strayed into the Assembly’s library. The owl, identified as a Tyto alba, is known for its heart-shaped facial disc and distinctive screeching call.
The officials acted to safely capture the nocturnal bird and handed it over to the forest department for proper care and release. Barn owls primarily prey on small mammals such as rodents and typically nest in buildings or tree cavities.
The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all bird species. It is found almost everywhere except for polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, some Indonesian islands, and certain Pacific Islands. Known as the common barn owl, this bird is part of the Tytonidae family, distinct from the typical owls (Strigidae).
There are at least three major lineages of barn owl: the western barn owl of Europe, western Asia, and Africa; the eastern barn owl of southeastern Asia and Australasia; and the American barn owl of the Americas. Taxonomic classifications vary, with some authorities recognizing up to five separate species, though further research is needed to resolve these differences. Barn owls exhibit significant variation in size and color across their approximately 28 subspecies, with most measuring between 33 and 39 cm in length and having wingspans ranging from 80 to 95 cm. Their plumage is typically mottled grey or brown on the head and back, with underparts ranging from white to brown, sometimes speckled with dark markings. The heart-shaped face is white in most subspecies.
Unlike typical owls, the barn owl does not hoot but instead produces an eerie, drawn-out screech. These birds primarily hunt small mammals, such as rodents, and usually nest in buildings or tree cavities.
