Barn Owl

The ghost-white hunter

Barn owls have a heart-shaped facial disc, pale underparts and golden-buff upper wings. They are one of the most widely distributed land birds in the world. They prefer open country where small rodents are plentiful and often nest in old barns, church towers and tree hollows, which is how they got their name.

A screech, not a hoot

Unlike tawny owls, barn owls do not hoot. Their typical call is a drawn-out, hissing screech given in flight or near the nest, along with snores and hisses from nestlings. The facial disc works like a dish that funnels sound towards ears placed asymmetrically on the skull, helping the owl locate prey by hearing alone, even under snow or in near-total darkness.

Silent flight and farm-friendly habits

Soft-edged feathers let barn owls fly almost silently, so they can approach prey without being heard. A single family can eat thousands of rodents in a year, and many farmers put up nest boxes to encourage them. Rodenticides, traffic and loss of rough grassland are the main threats to local populations.

Further reading: Nocturnal Noises: Which Animals Are Most Active at Night, and Why

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.