In many ways Barn Owls are perfect predators as they have evolved to have a number of unique adaptations, making them extremely efficient hunters. Their broad wings and incredibly light body make them very aerodynamic. The soft edges to their wing feathers enable them to fly silently, making it almost impossible for their prey to hear or see them coming.
Asymmetrical ears, along with a heart shaped facial disc which funnels sound towards the ears , gives them incredibly sensitive hearing, and extremely flexible head rotation allows them to have an amazing field of vision. Long legs and razor sharp talons help them to reach into long grass to catch small mammals and a hooked beak to rip flesh, along with the ability to swallow prey whole, means that a Barn Owl will get maximum nutritional value from its food.
Quartering slowly, about two metres high across a meadow, the Barn Owl will use its exceptional hearing to listen out for hidden voles and mice. Once prey is detected, the owl swoops down and utilises its long legs to reach into the grass to catch the unfortunate mammal. Those razor sharp talons ensure that death is almost always instantaneous and the owl will fly away to a perch to enjoy its meal or perhaps bring it back to a nest where hungry young owls may lie in wait.