. Birds in Kansas. Birds -- Kansas Identification. Owls Common Barn-Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli) Status: Small numbers of Common Barn-Owls are permanent, statewide residents. Period of Occurrence: The species occurs all year. Breeding: Barn-Owls nest most often in an abandoned building, natural cavity of a tree or river- bank, or on flood debris beneath a bridge. The nesting season is extended, with nest records from April through October; probably most eggs are laid from mid-May to mid-June. The eggs are laid on the bare substrate or on debris from previous nestings. The four to seven pure white e
. Birds in Kansas. Birds -- Kansas Identification. Owls Common Barn-Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli) Status: Small numbers of Common Barn-Owls are permanent, statewide residents. Period of Occurrence: The species occurs all year. Breeding: Barn-Owls nest most often in an abandoned building, natural cavity of a tree or river- bank, or on flood debris beneath a bridge. The nesting season is extended, with nest records from April through October; probably most eggs are laid from mid-May to mid-June. The eggs are laid on the bare substrate or on debris from previous nestings. The four to seven pure white eggs are laid at intervals of several days, and incuba- tion (about 33 days) begins when the first egg is laid. The young therefore hatch several days apart, and when the food supply is inadequate, smaller, younger chicks may perish. The female incu- bates, and the male brings food to her and, later, to the nestlings. Although few specific data are available, it is considered a low-density breeder statewide. Birds are said to mate for life. Habits and Habitat: Although common Barn-Owls are often very closely associated with man, they are so secretive by day that they are seldom seen. The birds are strictly nocturnal, with excellent hearing; experiments have shown that they can catch prey in complete dark- ness. They hunt primarily over open country and near farm build- ings, where they course back and forth with a silent, mothlike flight, pausing to pounce on their rodent prey. In western Kansas, they are most often seen among rock outcrops bordering ravines or rivers. They are commonly called the "monkey-faced owl" because of their heart-shaped facial disk and their habit of lowering the head while swaying from side to side. Although they are usually silent (except for bill clacking and hissing when disturbed) they also make a loud shrill shriek (or screech), which is believed to be a territorial call. Food: Numerous studies, most of which analyze the remains of regur
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