This beautiful bird is a barn owl (Tyto alba). Barn owls are easily recognisable by their distinctive heart-shaped face, pale coloring, and dark eyes. They are known for their silent flight and exceptional hearing, which makes them excellent nocturnal hunters.
They favour open habitats like grasslands, farmlands, and marshes, where they silently glide in search of small mammals, especially rodents. Their exceptional hearing, aided by a heart-shaped facial disc, allows them to locate prey even in complete darkness. Throughout history, barn owls have held a place in folklore—sometimes revered, sometimes feared—often symbolising mystery or omens due to their ghostly appearance and eerie screech.
Fujifilm XPro2
Fujinon 16-55mm f2.8
Linking Saturday Critter
