New York\u2019s newest celebrity resident is a real hoot.<\/p>\n
An American Barn Owl has been spotted living in the big city \u2014 and he\u2019s making sure all of Manhattan knows he\u2019s here.<\/p>\n
The critter \u2014 with a distinctive heart-shaped face \u2014 has been screeching on the Upper West Side for the past month after apparently moving into the neighborhood full time to take advantage of bountiful rat hunting opportunities in the area. <\/p>\n
A barn owl has been feasting on the rats of the Upper West Side for the past month. Ms. Williams<\/p>\n
The white bird was snapped in a papparazzi-esque picture this weekend, titillating neighbors who are apparently impressed that he got such a sweet new Uptown pad without even having to interview with a co-op board. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to see what kind of wildlife we can get living near Central Park, but this was far more unique and exciting,\u201d said a woman who snapped a picture of the owl from her West 76th Street and Central Park West patio, who asked to be identified only as Ms. Williams.<\/p>\n
She said she heard the owl well before she spotted him \u2014 she first heard his loud \u201craspy\u201d screeches over Labor Day weekend.<\/p>\n
Neither she nor her husband could identify the unique screams and were even more perplexed when the Merlin app, which can identify bird noises, recognized it as an American Barn Owl.<\/a><\/p>\n American Barn Owls are more commonly sighted in Jamaica Bay and other natural areas of the outer boroughs, according to the Parks Department. Jason Roach Photography \/ SWNS<\/p>\n It wouldn\u2019t be until a month later that Williams spotted the bird hanging out on a neighboring ledge.<\/p>\n Multiple neighbors also reported seeing the owl flying through their yards in recent weeks, according to the West Side Rag, which first reported the rare visit. <\/a><\/p>\n