Barn Owl

Barn Owls are Common in year round.

Habitat

In Washington, they are closely associated with agricultural areas, roadsides, as well as forest openings, wetlands, and other relatively large, open spaces. In winter, they roost in dense conifers or barns.

Behavior

Barn Owls bob their heads and weave back and forth, giving them a spooky appearance. They hunt mostly at night, flying low over open ground, listening and watching for prey. Their vision is adapted for low light levels, and their hearing is highly precise. Barn Owls can accurately locate prey entirely by sound and strike successfully in total darkness. No other animal tested has as great an ability to locate prey by sound.