Barn owl

Barn owls hunt by flying low over fields, listening for rodents. Their asymmetrical ears — one higher than the other — let them pinpoint sound in three dimensions.

A family of barn owls can eat over a thousand rodents in a year. Farmers in many countries put up nest boxes to encourage them as natural pest control. They have declined in much of the eastern US as old barns and grasslands disappeared.

Nest — No nest; eggs laid in a barn, silo, hollow tree or nest box
Eggs — Usually four to seven
Incubation — About 29 to 34 days
Chicks — Fed by both parents; hatch days apart, so sizes vary
Flight — At about eight to nine weeks
Lifespan — Usually a few years in the wild

• Rodent poisons kill owls that eat poisoned rodents.
• Nest boxes in barns or on poles near fields help barn owls and control rodents.
• Owls are often hit by cars when hunting along road verges.

• The scream at night is someone in danger. It is often a barn owl.
• Owls are bad omens. Barn owls are among the most useful animals on a farm.

• Barred owl
• Great horned owl
• Short-eared owl