Tyto alba

Interesting facts: The night-active barn owl is very common in Central Europe. The breeding and resting places are hidden in detached buildings, such as church towers or barns, and also trees or cliff crevices. The owl with large wings needs open ground for its nightly hunt. Its distinctive heart-shaped face-marking serves to collect the acoustic sounds of the prey, predominantly rodents. At the same time, it screens out other sounds.

Characteristics: Heart-shaped face mask; plumage underside predominantly white and light, in Central Europe yellow-orange; back predominantly grey, spotted and striped

Body length: Longer than 30 cm (longer than a blackbird)