BARN OWL
Tyto alba

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION:
One of the most-loved and easily recognisable of all the owls, the Barn owl is struggling in the wild. The main reasons for this are loss of habitat and declining food supplies.

Barn owls have keen eyesight but appear to rely more on their excellent hearing when hunting. Their heart-shaped faces are perfectly designed to direct sound towards the ears, working in the same way as a satellite dish.

They prey on small mammals such as mice, shrews and voles.

Their life span in the wild is normally only about 2-3 years, but in captivity Barn owls have been recorded living over 30 years.