What are barn-owls?
Q: What are barn-owls?
A: Barn-owls are one of the two families of owls, and they are medium to large sized owls with large heads and heart-shaped faces.
Q: What is the other family of owls?
A: The other family of owls is the true owls, Strigidae.
Q: Where are barn-owls not found?
A: Barn-owls are not found in northern North America, Saharan Africa, and large areas of Asia.
Q: What kind of habitats do barn-owls live in?
A: Barn-owls live in a wide range of habitats from deserts to forests, and from temperate latitudes to the tropics.
Q: What is the main characteristic of barn-owls?
A: The main characteristic of barn-owls is the heart-shaped facial disc formed by stiff feathers, which helps to amplify and locate the source of sounds when the bird hunts.
Q: How do the adaptations to the wing feathers of barn-owls help them hunt?
A: The adaptations to the wing feathers of barn-owls eliminate sound caused by flying, which helps both the owl's hearing, and keeps the prey unaware of the owl.
Q: When do barn-owls hunt and how do they use sound to detect prey movement?
A: Barn-owls hunt mainly at dusk and night-time, and they use sound to detect prey movement. The owl's hearing is sensitive, and its wings are almost silent.
