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American Barn Owls are one of the most numerous species of owls that can be found around Los Angeles. Their bellowing screeches (often mistaken for the call of a Western Screech-Owl, which actually hoots rather than screeches) echo from the palm trees at night in almost every neighborhood. Because American Barn Owls’ diet consists mostly of rodents, they can live and thrive close to humans. The trash we leave out, the fruit trees we grow, and the lush yards we maintain are major attractants to rats, mice, and gophers which provide plenty of food for urban and suburban barn owls.

As Halloween draws near, an American Barn Owl is the perfect bird to write about. From their ghostly silent flight, pitch-black eyes, the way they build their 'nest', and their eerie toe dusting behavior, these owls are unique and a little creepy! 

For one, unlike the familiar yellowed-eyed Great Horned Owl, these ghostly-white American Barn Owls have eyes as black as night. This is in significant contrast to their white, heart-shaped faces, making their eyes incredibly striking to view. 

American Barn Owls do not make bird nests in the traditional way we think of, either. Their nests are actually created by the owl regurgitating 'pellets' onto a solid surface such as a barn loft, haystack, or cliff edge, then crushing the pellets by stepping on them until a bowl-like shape forms. These regurgitated pellets look like hair balls, but a ghastly surprise is revealed upon closer look. Due to the low acidity of owls’ stomachs, they cannot digest the teeth and bones of their prey. These leftovers are tucked inside of the pellet and expelled from the stomach and, in the case of the American Barn Owl, repurposed into nests. Up to eight chicks will be raised on this nest, composed entirely of the skeletal remains of their mother’s prey.

The near-silent flight of an American Barn Owl is made possible by three special features of their feathers. The front-facing side of the feathers have comb-like ridges that break up the wind. This would normally cause the sound one hears when swinging something around. Their feathers are soft like a velvet cloak, which further dampens the sound. Lastly, the prevailing edges of the feathers have a soft fringe that reduces turbulence.

Perhaps the creepiest thing about American Barn Owls is their 'toe dusting' behavior. It must be seen to be believed. Watch a video online, but beware, you’ll wish you kept the lights on! When an American Barn Owl feels threatened, it will stretch out its wings, bow its head to its toes, and move it around as if swinging a pendulum. It will look up sporadically to clack its beak and hiss! One might question: is this animal behavior or possession!?

Creepy behavior and characteristics aside, American Barn Owls are an essential component of our local ecology here in Los Angeles. As apex predators, they keep nature in balance. These owls consume thousands of rodents each year, keeping their populations in check. 

Do your part to protect these wonderous birds by never using rodenticide poison. Poisoned prey makes for poisoned predators. Let’s keep barn owls around to haunt future generations.

This articles was written as part of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center at Debs Park's Fall 2025 Happy Owl-o-Ween newsletter.