With their almost glowing faces, silent flight, and haunting screech, barn owls are one of the most fascinating nocturnal hunters in the bird world. Mysterious to some and endearing to others, these owls play a vital role in ecosystemsāand you can meet them at Bali Bird Park.
What Makes the Barn Owl So Unique?
Barn owls are the most widespread owl species on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. They are instantly recognizable by their heart-shaped facial disc, which acts like a satellite dish, funneling sound directly to the owlās ears. This gives them extraordinary hearing, very useful when hunting in complete darkness.
Barn owls are medium-sized, typically weighing around half a kilo, with a wingspan of up to 1 meter. Their light, buoyant build allows them to fly silently, thanks to specially structured feathers that muffle wing noise. This stealth gives them a powerful edge in hunting small mammals.
Their feathers are a soft blend of golden brown, pale grey, and whiteāperfect camouflage for roosting in old buildings, trees, or barns.
Hunting Behaviour and Diet
Barn owls are nocturnal predators, relying mostly on sound to detect prey. Their favored foods include:
- Mice, rats, and voles
- Shrews and small birds
- Occasionally frogs and insects
Gliding low over fields or farmland, they listen for rustling beneath the grass. Once located, they strike with swift, silent precision. Barn owls are natural pest controllersākeeping rodent populations in check and reducing the need for harmful chemical alternatives.
Adaptability and Habitat
Barn owls are remarkably adaptable. They thrive in open habitatsāgrasslands, farmlands, meadows, and even near human settlements. As long as thereās food, shelter, and open space to hunt, barn owls can make themselves at home.
They often roost and nest in:
- Abandoned buildings
- Barn lofts
- Hollow trees
- Church towers
- Custom-built owl nest boxes
Because of this flexibility, theyāve formed close (if quiet) relationships with humans for centuriesāespecially in rural farming regions.
Myth, Mystery, and Modern Understanding
Throughout history, barn owls have been symbols of mystery. In some cultures, their eerie screeches at night were misunderstood as omens of death or misfortune. In othersāsuch as Ancient Greeceāthey were symbols of wisdom, associated with Athena, the goddess of learning.
Today, conservation efforts are helping reshape public perceptions. More people now understand that barn owls are essential to healthy ecosystems, not creatures to be feared.
At Bali Bird Park, we highlight this shift in perception through education, outreach, and up-close experiences that allow visitors to learn, observe, and connect with these remarkable birds.
The Barn Owls at Bali Bird Park
The Toraja House at Bali Bird Park is currently home to four barn owls. Our resident pair, Hedwig and Hermione, welcomed their first baby on April 1st 2025. We named her āUlulaā, which is the beautiful Latin word for āowlā.
Two months later, Ulula and her parents were joined by Alice. She was found in a box on the road in Jimbaran; a fledgling owl with no full plumage. Probably a victim of the pet tradeā when her buyers realised itās not easy to take care of an owl, she was thrown out onto the road.
Luckily a kind Russian lady found Alice and contacted Bali Bird Park. After two weeks in quarantine, the avian team introduced Alice to the barn owl family in the Toraja House. She gets along brilliantly with her new family. And even better: her adoptive parents laid more eggs and are breeding again!
Indeed; it sounds as if our Toraja house will soon be a bit too smallā¦ Our future plan is to introduce the owls to outdoor nest boxes. Like that, they can come and go whenever they want.
Why Barn Owls Matter
Barn owls are more than symbols of wisdom and stealth flightātheyāre ecosystem regulators, helping to control rodent populations that can damage crops and spread disease. By protecting barn owls and preserving their habitats, we also protect the balance of life around them.
Plan Your Visit
Come meet the barn owl family at Bali Bird Park and learn how silent flight, sharp hearing, and age-old symbolism come together in one unforgettable bird. Book your ticket online, and donāt forget to join a keeper talk for the full experience.
