Barn Owl vs Black Bent

Tyto alba compared with Agrostis gigantea

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Barn Owl Black Bent
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Aves (Birds) Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order Strigiformes (Owls) Poales (Grasses)
Family Tytonidae Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus Tyto Agrostis
Species Tyto alba Agrostis gigantea

Conservation Status

Barn Owl

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Black Bent

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Barn Owl Black Bent
Diet Carnivore
Average Lifespan 4 years
Average Length 35 cm
Average Weight 500 g

Habitat & Geographic Range

Barn Owl

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Population trends indicate a declining trajectory in parts of its range.

Black Bent

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Japan), Europe (11 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (5 countries).

Barn Owl

The most widespread owl species on Earth, barn owls are found on every continent except Antarctica and in almost every habitat type from tropical forests to temperate farmland. Characterized by their heart-shaped facial disc that funnels sound to asymmetrically placed ears, enabling them to locate prey in total darkness by sound alone. They swallow prey whole and regurgitate compressed pellets of indigestible bone and fur, making them valuable rodent control agents for agriculture.

Black Bent

The Black Bent (Agrostis gigantea) is a species in the genus Agrostis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia