Abstract
Background: Barn Owls (Tyto alba Scopoli, 1769), which are nocturnal birds of prey, play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations that damage crops. They are valuable allies for farmers because they can effectively hunt small rodents. In Algeria, the Barn Owl is represented by two subspecies, Tyto alba alba and Tyto alba guttata. Methods: This study focuses on the Barn Owls' diet in the Saharan region, specifically in the Souf region, characterized by a dry climate. The research examines the contents of the Barn Owl's reject balls, which are regurgitated, to determine their diet. Result: The study reveals that each reject ball contains 1 to 9 prey items. The researchers identified 23 prey species, with rodents being the most abundant, making up 88.3% of the diet. The most commonly found prey species in Barn Owl balls are G. gerbillus, G. campestris, M. musculus, G. nanus and G. tarabuli. Overall, the Barn Owl's diet in the Saharan region is crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling rodent populations.
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