Appearance
Barn owls have a white, flat, heart-shaped face that is distinctive to its species and acts like a satellite dish to funnel sounds to their ears. Their plumage is mostly made up of white to gold colored feathers. This unique appearance has earned them nicknames like the Golden Owl, Ghost Owl, and Monkey Owl. Compared to other owl species, the barn owl has a beak that is hidden behind stiff feathers that protrude out from its nostrils. Their eyes are also relatively smaller than most other owl species.
Range
Barn owls are very commonly found in the south and live all across the United States. Their species has learned to adapt to a decreasing number of habitats by building nest in human populated areas. Barn owls can be found nesting in barns and abandoned city buildings.
Diet
Barn owls are carnivores and require a lot of space for hunting. They need a minimum of 70 acres of land as their hunting zone, and they will hunt and eat various small mammals such as mice and voles. Barn owls have a unique flight style, and they can hover in the air for as long as a minute.
Who You’ll Meet
Po
Date of Birth: May 2017
Po came to the WNC Nature Center from the Museum of Boston in September 2025.