Tytonidae

Tytonidae is the barn owl family, one of two owl families alongside the true owls of Strigidae, placed in the order Strigiformes. It contains two extant genera, Tyto for the barn owls and Phodilus for the bay owls, totaling roughly 20 living species. Members are widespread but avoid severe winters and arid deserts, occurring from semi-desert through forest habitats in temperate and tropical regions, though absent from northern Europe, Asia and North America. They are distinguished from true owls by large heads with characteristic heart-shaped faces, long strong legs with powerful talons, and structural differences in the sternum and feet.