Barn Owl versus Short-eared Owl

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A Barn Owl spotted several times at Picnic Point's Biocore Prairie during the past week has created quite a stir in the local birding scene. I tried Sunday evening but the owl apparently hunted elsewhere, or came out after everyone had left! As they say, "Some days you get the bird, and on other days the bird gets you." While waiting for the owl, I was asked by another birder differences between a Barn Owl's flight and that of a Short-eared Owl. Since it was getting pretty dark we wondered if we would still be able to identify it without some of the more obvious fieldmarks being visible.

Pete Dunne describes both birds as being “mothlike” and no doubt there's bound to be some element of variability, but I think it's true that Short-eared Owls possess a more casual and meandering style of flight. Pete states, "Flight is buoyant, floating, nimble and aptly described as mothlike..." He similarly describes a Barn Owl's flight as, "Buoyant and mothlike, with slow stiff wingbeats."

Short-eared Owl from BNA:

"Foraging flight is moth-like and buoyant with slow, deliberate wing beats. Low wing loading allows for slow, agile, maneuverable flight. Direct and fast wing-pumping flight when defending territories. Will hover with and without wind when hunting. Soar on long broad wings and tail, similar to Buteo hawks. Perhaps same flight used in migration. Often avoids diurnal avian predators and mobbing situations by quickly increasing altitude using soaring and flapping flight (DWH)."

Barn Owl from BNA:

"Buoyant; deep, rather slow wingbeats. Hunting flights slow but capable of speeds of 80 km/h (Bunn et al. 1982). Not considered highly maneuverable but can make turns on small radius."

I have yet to see a Barn Owl in the wild, but I suggested to the birder that the Barn Owl's flight is more "deliberate" than that of the Short-eared owl. I realize that is sort of vague, though. I decided to search the Internet for video documentation. I can state with confidence that the Short-eared Owl in the following video I found on YouTube is very typical of that species:



Compare that with this video of a hunting Barn Owl:



There seems to be a discernable difference in wingbeat, speed and the way each bird covers territory, but like I said, I'm not sure how typical this particular Barn Owl is. The Picnic Point Barn Owl was spotted again last evening, so I may try again this week after work in hopes of making my own comparative observation.