Barn Owl Tyto alba

The Barn Owl is also known by several other names including the Ghost Owl (although the Snowy Owl is more deserving of that name) and the Common Barn Owl. It is prevalent on all continents except Antarctica and present in most regions except Far East/North Asia, far north and deserts. It hunts by day as well as night in winter.

The Barn Owl has an all white front (the nominal subspecies) and a beautifully patterned coat, like jewels.

When the wind blows it shows that the bird is really quite small, packaged in a thick layer of feathers.

The photos in the row above, showing a Barn Owl hunting by day and having caught a rat, were taken by Lindy Woodhouse.