Common name: Barn Owl.
Scientific name: Tyto alba schmitzi (Hartert, 1900)
Family: Tytonidae
Distribution and Habitat: Endemic subspecies of the Madeira Archipelago. Its nesting is only confirmed in the Madeira Island. It may be found in human populated, urban or agricultural areas, in forest areas and in open areas with low growing vegetation.
Description: It is the only nocturnal terrestrial bird on the archipelago and may be identified by its outline during flight and by its sharp and strident call.
Conservation statute and Threats: Species of minor concern since its population in the archipelago is composed of about 10,000 individuals and it has a wide area of occurrence.
Observations: The number of individuals of this species has increased gradually, however, it lacks recent studies on nesting and populational level.