The barn owl is sometimes called the monkey-faced owl. It has a round, heart-shaped face. This flat, white face scoops up sound like a satellite dish. It aims the sound at the owl’s ears.

The barn owl sees fine in the daytime, even though it is nocturnal or active at night. It sees even better at night. The owl’s hearing is what makes it such a good hunter, though. It also has special feathers that help it fly silently.

After the owl catches its prey, it eats it, bones and all. Later, it will throw up pellets full of bones and hair. Scientists like to look through these pellets to see what the owl ate.

This medium-sized owl does not say Whoo. It has a raspy scream that can be scary at night.

People are clearing forests and farmland to build towns and shopping malls. It is hard for the barn owl to find places to live and hunt. To help the owl, people put up owl nest boxes.

The barn owl does not live very long. It often dies before it is two years old. A car or truck might hit it. It may fly into power lines or starve.