Dark-breasted Barn Owl: The barn owl which occurs in Britain belongs to the race
Tyto alba and is separated into over 30 subspecies, the nearest of which is present in Central and Eastern Europe known as
Tyto alba guttata, also described as the dark breasted barn owl.
The barn owl that we have in Britain is unmistakable with its ghostly white
Tyto alba guttata plumage shows darker oranges and brown, buff underparts, extending right down onto belly, legs and under tail.
They have extensive dark markings around the eye, spreading out across the facial disc and extensive grey markings over the entire upperparts, with clearly more grey than buff visible.
The barn owl is not only the world’s most widely distributed species of owl, but is also one of the most widespread of all birds, as it is found on every continent except Antarctica. Though they occur throughout the tropics, they avoid areas with cold winters. Scotland has the most northerly breeding barn owls in the Northern Hemisphere.
The dark-breasted barn owl is a very rare vagrant to Britain with less then 13 records. This bird has taken up residence ear a small Christmas tree plantation in Bourne. A very nice bird to have caught up with, and one I would urge anyone who hasn't seen it yet to go for it. It's a striking looking bird.
