ABSTRACT
10 species, mainly in the Oriental and Australasian Regions. Three, including the cosmopolitan Barn Owl, are found in the Afrotropical Region and, of these, two breed in Kenya. These birds' crepuscular and nocturnal habits certainly lower their detectability and coverage. Local and uncommon in long grasslands up to 3200 m, particularly in the vicinity of damper, marshy areas. In contrast to the Barn Owl (381), this is purely a highland species, with range 76% moist subhumidhumid, and entirely within 500+ mm rainfall 1000+ m areas. The Barn Owl is largely a commensal of man that roosts and breeds on permanent buildings, even in urban centres: numbers may well have increased with the spread of suitable buildings. The compact distribution shows no sign of wanderers, and this owl is apparently resident (Br). Brown mentions temporary movements to concentrations of rodent prey.
