Barn Owls Swoop Into the Library

A striking yet eerie sight awaits you in the State Library this October! The Barn Owl (plate 171) is on display in our Audubon case. With its distinctive white heart-shaped face and dark eyes, it has a ghostly appearance as it flies and perches in the night. Both the male and female are shown, along with an unfortunate squirrel. 

The Barn Owl is nocturnal, and this is one of only a few Audubon prints that depicts a nighttime scene. Unlike other owls, they screech rather than hoot, so if you hear one at night you might get a bit of a spine-tingle!

In Massachusetts, they are a species of greatest conservation need. You can read more about them on the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife page.

Visit us from October 14 through November 12 to see the Barn Owls on display. And read about our other spooky October birds here: Raven, Common Crow Blackbird, and Vulture.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian