Barn owls have adapted to hunt in complete darkness, as a result they use hearing as their primary sense. Their face is comprised of stiff feathers that forms a disc, which helps to trap and focus sound to their asymmetrical ears. Sound will hit the Barn owl’s ears at different times allowing for them to ‘triangulate’ their target. They are low flying birds that have uniquely adapted feathers for silent flight, enabling them to hear exactly where their prey is located. The adaptation of silent flight also allows them to hunt undetected.
Barn owls are solitary or can be found in pairs, during breeding season. They are mainly sedentary animals with juveniles dispersing after the breeding season.
Size: Female barn owls are larger than males weighing up to 570 grams whereas the males are lighter at approximately 470gramms. Wingspan can be from 1 to 1.1 meters.