What graceful, ghostly bird can locate a mouse by sound and catch it in the dark of night? The barn owl, one of Washington’s best natural rodent-traps.
Hearing a barn owl's voice can also be a memorable identifying experience! Barn owls' high-pitched screeches or hiss-screams can be very loud, but the birds are not dangerous. They make these sounds to warn their young of danger, to ward off enemies, announce their arrival at the nest and to proclaim their territory.
Barn owls are sometimes called "monkey-faced owls" because of their white, heart-shaped faces and dark eyes. These crow-sized owls are distinguished from other Washington owls by a pale face, long legs, light underparts and a rusty back speckled with black. Barn owls and other owls are classified in the same bird order (Strigiformes), but barn-owls are in their own family (Tytonidae) because their skeletal structure and pale, stiff facial feathers differ from those of typical owls (Strigidae).
Barn owls are sometimes called "monkey-faced owls" because of their white, heart-shaped faces and dark eyes. These crow-sized owls are distinguished from other Washington owls by a pale face, long legs, light underparts and a rusty back speckled with black. Barn owls and other owls are classified in the same bird order (Strigiformes), but barn-owls are in their own family (Tytonidae) because their skeletal structure and pale, stiff facial feathers differ from those of typical owls (Strigidae).
Special Barn Owl Adaptations
Flight feathers are serrated at their tips, muffling the flapping sound of the wings during flight.
Short feathers on side of head form a groove that helps direct sound waves into the ear opening.
Sharp talons for seizing and holding prey.
Hooked beak for tearing meat.
Eyes in front allow for depth perception and ability to isolate and efficiently capture prey, as well as to avoid obstacles.
Eyes fixed in sockets, so owl¹s flexible neck designed to turn up to 270 degrees (three quarters of a circle).
Barn owls don't have ear tufts like great horned owls or screech owls. But this doesn't mean barn owls don't have ears. Ear tufts are just feathers; the owl's real ears are behind its round facial disks, which help direct sound into the ears. Barn owls' ears also are asymmetrical; they are different sizes and one is located higher on the head than the other. This enables the bird to sense direction and distance by differences in the intensity of the sound that reaches each ear. Barn owls use their ears to locate food. They are very accurate hunters, even in the pitch black. Barn owls also have special feathers on the front edges of their wings that reduce the amount of noise they make when flying. Their quiet flight prevents prey from hearing them approach
