Barn Owls have probably never been very abundant in Iowa but in the past several decades they seem to have become even rarer and now are considered endangered in the state. Barn Owls have probably suffered due to the loss of grasslands where they typically feed as well as the increase in numbers of Great Horned Owls, a species that preys on Barn Owls. An restoration effort by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to increase their population by releasing many Barn Owls was unsuccessful. A few pairs are still found most years, mainly in southern Iowa. Compared to other Iowa owls, Barn Owls are light colored, have long legs, and the thickly feathered area around their eyes is heart shaped rather than round or oval.
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indicates a designated IBA.