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The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread land birds in the world, with many different sub-species. They prefer wooded areas and grassland and like to nest in derelict farm buildings and barns, which is how they earned their name. The feathers on their heart-shaped faces (facial disks) cleverly funnel sound to their ears, so they can hear their prey from a distance, and their soft feathers allow them to fly in total silence. Barn owls usually eat small mammals like mice and rats, but they’ll occasionally eat amphibians too.

Conservation status | Least concern

Fact Sheet

Scientific name

Tyto alba

Family

Tytonidae

Order

Strigiformes

Lifespan

4 years in the wild or up to 25 years in captivity

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