About
The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread land birds on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. With its heart-shaped facial disc of pure white, dark liquid eyes, and ghostly silent flight, it has haunted human imagination for millennia. Its facial disc functions as a parabolic reflector, giving it the most acute hearing of any animal tested. A Barn Owl can locate and capture prey in complete darkness using sound alone.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Physical Characteristics
Wingspan
80–95 cm
Length
33–39 cm
Weight
224–710 g
Ecology
Habitat
Open farmland, grasslands, marshes, villages with old buildings
Diet
Voles, mice, shrews, small rats, occasionally small birds
Distribution
Worldwide except polar regions and deserts