Have you ever seen a Barn Owl? If you live in Canada or the United States, you might have! Barn Owls live in 48 of the 50 states in the USA, and in Southern parts of Canada. Their habitats include grasslands, deserts, marshes, forests, fields, and yes… barns!
Can you guess how a barn owl got its name? They like to nest in barns! Do you know why they would choose a barn to nest in? They like to eat rodents, such as rats, mice, bats and rabbits. Rodents also live in barns, because it is a reliable food source. Living in a barn makes hunting a lot easier for the barn owl.
Barn Owl Nests
Barn owls don’t only nest in barns. They also nest in holes in trees, caves, burrows and other manmade structures. The female barn owl makes the nest with her feet out of pellets.
What are Owl Pellets?
Owl pellets are the undigested parts of the bird’s food. This includes hair, bones, claws, etc. The owl regurgitates the parts of their prey that they cannot digest. When studying the barn owl, some people dissect owl pellets and try to identify the bones.
Barn Owl Flight
Barn owls are unique because they can fly silently, making them a stealthy predator. How is the barn owl able to fly silently? In part, it has to do with the shape of its feathers. The barn owl also has a long wing span in relation to its small size. This makes it easier to fly slowly, and gives it a greater lift. You may be able to see a barn owl flying, but you will never hear it.
Did you Know?
The barn owl can fly up to 200 miles per hour.
A barn owl only weighs 1 pound.
Barn owls are nocturnal, meaning they hunt at night.
Reading Comprehension Quiz
Where do barn owls live?
Where did the barn owl get its name?
Where do barn owl’s nest?
Vocabulary Words
Habitat: A habitat is a place where animals and plants live. It’s like their home, where they find everything they need to survive, such as food, water, and shelter.
Rodent: A rodent is a small animal with sharp front teeth that it uses for gnawing. Examples of rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, and hamsters.
Owl Pellets: Owl pellets are clumps of fur and bones that owls cough up after they eat. Owls can’t digest everything they eat, like the fur and bones of mice, so they spit out these pellets to get rid of them.
Prey: Prey are animals that are hunted and eaten by predators.
Predator: A predator is an animal that hunts and eats other animals to survive.
Dissect: To carefully cut something open for study.
Nocturnal: Animals that are active during the night and sleep during the day.
Barn Owl Printable Nature Study
