Barn Owls

Barn owls are beautiful owls with heart-shaped faces and pale feathers. They get their name because they often nest in barns and old buildings. Barn owls are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are some of the best nighttime hunters in the bird world.

Silent Hunters

Barn owls hunt in complete darkness using their incredible hearing. Their heart-shaped face works like a satellite dish to funnel sound to their ears. One ear is higher than the other, which helps them pinpoint exactly where sounds come from. Their feathers are specially designed for silent flight.

Helping Farmers

Barn owls eat mostly mice and rats. A single barn owl family can eat over 3,000 rodents in one nesting season. This makes them very popular with farmers. Some farmers put up special nest boxes to attract barn owls to help control pests on their land.

Fun Facts

• A family of barn owls can eat over 3,000 rodents in one breeding season.
• Barn owls can catch prey in total darkness using only their hearing.
• Barn owls do not hoot. Instead, they make a raspy screeching sound.

Did You Know?

Barn owls fly so silently that their prey cannot hear them coming! Their feathers have special soft edges that break up air flow and eliminate the sound of flapping.