Barn-Owls

The Barn Owl family consists of medium-sized owls known for their heart-shaped faces, which help them collect sound very effectively for excellent hearing. Unlike many other owls, they have small, dark eyes and do not have ear tufts. Their feathers are very soft and specially made to allow them to fly silently. They are found all over the world except in Antarctica, living in a variety of places such as farmland, grassland, woodland edges, and marshes. These owls usually hunt small animals, mainly rodents, relying on their hearing rather than their sight to find food. The family includes the pale-coloured Barn Owl, which is well known in Britain, as well as the darker Grass Owls and Bay Owls that live in tropical areas. Most Barn Owls nest in holes, such as in buildings, tree hollows, or cliff faces, instead of building nests themselves.