The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. The barn owl is found almost everywhere in the world except polar and desert regions. In Campania, exists in many protected areas of Salerno Province. Like most owls, the barn owl is nocturnal, relying on its acute sense of hearing when hunting in complete darkness in margins of forests. The sound that produces is said to be like this of a steam cooker, but when flying, this animal is completely silent.
Males and females have few differences. Both are medium-sized, pale-colored with long wings and a short tail. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male owl.
They are nourished by water rats, frogs, insects and harmful to human animals such as rats, mice and moles and that is the reason farmers support residences and build wooden boxes for their nests.
Common names such as "demon owl", "death owl", or "ghost owl" show that traditionally, rural populations in many places considered barn owls to be birds of evil omen.
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Colin Harrison e Peter Castell: Field Guide di nidi di uccelli, uova e nidiacei, Harper Collins Publishers, edizione rivista 2002