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Animal Guide

American Barn Owl

54 destinations · 30 states

Native Range
North, Central, and South America

American barn owls have a distinctive heart-shaped face that becomes especially striking when one looks directly toward you. At a zoo or wildlife destination, watch the facial disk as the owl turns its head toward sounds around the habitat. Those specialized feathers help collect and direct sound toward the ears, making it easier to locate prey in darkness. Barn owls are also remarkably quiet flyers. The edges of their flight feathers help reduce the sound of each wingbeat, allowing them to approach prey with little warning. Look for a bird shifting between perches, preening, or suddenly taking off with broad, pale wings. Their diet includes rodents and other small animals, which they often hunt at night over open fields and grasslands. American barn owls range widely across the Americas and can live in habitats from farmland to coastal areas. A close view reveals the contrast between the pale face and darker back, but hearing how quietly one can fly is perhaps the most surprising part of seeing this owl up close.

American Barn Owl

Where to see American Barn Owl

54 destinations across 30 states

54 destinations

Akron Zoo

Akron, OH

Ararat Ridge Zoo

Williamstown, KY

Bergen County Zoo

Paramus, NJ

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA

California Living Museum

Bakersfield, CA

Cameron Park Zoo

Waco, TX

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs, CO

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

Columbian Park Zoo

Lafayette, IN

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Bridgeport, CT

Cosley Zoo

Wheaton, IL

CuriOdyssey

San Mateo, CA

Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield, MO

El Paso Zoo

El Paso, TX

Franklin Park Zoo

Boston, MA

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg, MS

Henry Vilas Zoo

Madison, WI

High Desert Museum

Bend, OR

John Ball Zoo

Grand Rapids, MI

Keystone Safari

Grove City, PA

Lee Richardson Zoo

Garden City, KS

Lehigh Valley Zoo

Schnecksville, PA

Living Coast Discovery Center

Chula Vista, CA

Lowcountry Zoo

Murrells Inlet, SC

Mill Mountain Zoo

Roanoke, VA

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Nashville, TN

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Dubuque, IA

Niabi Zoo

Coal Valley, IL

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Eatonville, WA

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Orange County Zoo

Orange, CA

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport, OR

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA

Phillips Park Zoo

Aurora, IL

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence, RI

South Carolina Aquarium

Charleston, SC

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

St. Augustine, FL

Stone Zoo

Stoneham, MA

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

Palm Desert, CA

The Texas Zoo

Victoria, TX

Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park

Salt Lake City, UT

Washington Park Zoo

Michigan City, IN

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Asheville, NC

Wildlife Safari Park

Ashland, NE

Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Springfield, MO

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

ZooAmerica

Hershey, PA

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