The barn owls, owls in the genus '' Tyto'', are the most widely distributed genus of owls in the world. They are medium-sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons. The term may be used to describe: *The whole family

Tytonidae The bird family Tytonidae, which includes the barn owls ''Tyto'' and the bay owls ''Phodilus'', is one of the two Family (biology), families of owls, the other being the true owls or typical owls, True owl, Strigidae. They are medium to large owl ...

, though this also includes the bay owls in the genus '' Phodilus'' **'' Tyto'', the largest genus of birds in Tytonidae, and particularly these species in that genus: ***Three species that are sometimes considered to be a single species known as barn owl or common barn owl: **** Western barn owl ''Tyto alba'', from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East **** American barn owl ''Tyto furcata'', from the Americas **** Eastern barn owl ''Tyto javanica'', from southeast Asia and Australasia *** Andaman masked owl ''Tyto deroepstorffi'' endemic to the southern Andaman Islands *** New Caledonian barn owl ''Tyto letocarti'', extinct, from the island of New Caledonia in Melanesia

See also