Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Genus: Tyto
Species: T. javanica
Binomial name: Tyto javanica
Synonyms: Tyto delicatula
Common name: Pacific Barn Owl, Eastern barn owl, Barn owl
The eastern barn owl is native to southeast Asia and Australasia. It has been a regular vagrant to New Zealand since the 1940’s. Individuals have been reported from all over the country. In 2008 a pair was found breeding in the wild at Kaitaia, Northland so it is now classed as a new native species
In 2016 it was estimated that there was up to 50 pairs in Northland. In 2016 over six weeks a total of six owls were found dead or injured, from Kaitaia to Whangarei. It was thought that was due to bad winter weather conditions.
They prey on mostly on mice, rats and large insects. They have also been found to feed on small farmland birds such as sparrows and finches.
The Barn owl is a pale, medium-sized owl with a length of >38cm and a weight >475 g. It has a distinctive white, heart-shaped face, black eyes and a pale pinkish bill. The crown, nape, back and upper wings are orange-buff and grey with white spots, the throat, breast and belly are white with dark spots, and the long legs are fully covered with white feathers down to the greyish toes. (Description thanks to http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz)
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
