Barn Owlメンフクロウ

Tyto albaLC— Least Concern

The barn owl is a pale, heart-faced owl found on nearly every continent, renowned for hunting small mammals by sound alone in total darkness. Its silent flight and precise auditory prey-location make it one of the most effective nocturnal hunters among birds.

Barn Owl (reference photo)
Photo: User:Alun Williams333 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Strigiformes / Tytonidae Source
Size
33–39 cm
Weight
224–710 g (varies greatly by subspecies)
Lifespan
Average about 4 years in the wild (record 17 years 10 months); can reach over 20 years in captivity
Diet
Carnivore Feeds mainly on small mammals such as voles and shrews, which make up more than 90% of its prey
Distribution
Found on nearly every continent except Antarctica; the western barn owl's range spans all of Europe, most of Africa, and southwestern Asia to western Iran. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its ears are positioned asymmetrically, letting it pinpoint the exact location and distance of prey by sound alone, so it can hunt successfully in total darkness. Source
  • Tiny serrations on the leading edge of its flight feathers and a soft fringe on the trailing edge reduce turbulence and noise, giving it near-silent flight to approach prey undetected. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 8

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

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Utsunomiya DoubutsuenTochigiAbout 5 minutes from the Utsunomiya IC on the Tohoku Expressway; free parking for 1,000 cars.

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Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

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Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

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Akitashioomoriyama DoubutsuenAkitaFrom bus stop 7 at the west exit of the JR Akita Station bus terminal, take the Akita Chuo Kotsu "Araya Line" bus for about 30 minutes.

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Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

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Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

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Closed: 2025-09-30 Official Site

Latest news

6

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How does a barn owl hunt in complete darkness?
Its ears are set at slightly different heights on its head, letting it triangulate the exact location and distance of a sound with extreme precision, so it can catch prey without needing to see it. Source
Why does a barn owl fly silently?
Comb-like serrations on the leading edge of its wing feathers and a velvety fringe on the trailing edge break up turbulence and muffle sound, allowing near-silent flight. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 8 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org