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The Ashy-Faced Owl is an owl species endemic to Hispaniola, an island in the Caribbean. That means it can’t be found anywhere else in the world. It looks very similar to a Barn Owl but is darker in coloring. It stands about 12-13 inches tall, has a 9-11 inch wingspan, and weighs 9-18 ounces.1
These owls are nocturnal and prefer open habitats to hunt in.2 They’ll nest in areas that aren’t too densely wooded, scrublands, and caves. They can be found from sea level to 2,000 meters up. They also aren’t afraid to live near humans.1
Not much is known about these owls, and so it’s assumed they have similar behaviors to Barn Owls. However, it is known that these owls hunt mice, rats, frogs, insects, and small birds.3 Like Barn Owls, they help keep balance in their environment by controlling their prey populations.1
Like many other birds, they have sexual dimorphism, and the females tend to be larger than the males.1 Overall, Ashy-Faced Owls have a stable population and are considered to be of Least Concern.3
Did you know…?
Barn Owl pellets can give us great insight into an environment. By studying and dissecting their pellets, we can figure out what type of habitat they live in, what prey exists there, and how much of a certain species of prey is around.
With our owl pellet packs, you can learn more right at home or in the classroom!
Check out one of our Sherlock Bones pellet packs. This comes with a barn owl pellet, dissection tools, and our 24-page guide to take you through the process step by step!
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