Tyto alba | barn owl
Introduced
The barn owl is the only introduced species of owl in Hawaiʻi. They are sometimes mistakenly identified as the native pueo by locals and are common on all islands. Unlike the pueo, barn owls only hunt at night. Adults are 14-20 inches long with a white, heart shaped face, dark eyes and a pale bill. Underparts are white in males and buffy in females. At night, an observer might hear their raspy hiss, screeches, or a series of loud clicks.
The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.
Hotspots for barn owl
- Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Kahakapao Recreation Area | Details for Kahakapao Recreation Area
- Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area | Details for Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
- Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE) | Details for Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
- Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails | Details for Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road) | Details for Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
- Palila Forest Discovery Trail | Details for Palila Forest Discovery Trail
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
- Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail | Details for Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
- Kaulana Manu Nature Trail | Details for Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
- Kaūmana Trail | Details for Kaūmana Trail
- Wailoa River State Park | Details for Wailoa River State Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
Kahakapao Recreation Area
Wet forest
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
Dry forest
Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
Wet forest
Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
Keāhole Point
Coastal
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
Wet forest
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Pasture and grasslandsDry forest
Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
Pasture and grasslands
Palila Forest Discovery Trail
Dry forest
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
Wet forest
Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
Wet forest
Kaūmana Trail
Wet forest
Wailoa River State Park
Wetland
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland