What does the Barn Owl eat?

The Barn Owl's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore (primarily small mammals, especially voles, shrews, and mice; occasionally small birds, insects, or amphibians)

How it forages

Primarily nocturnal hunters, using their exceptional hearing and silent flight to locate prey in complete darkness. They typically hunt by flying low over open ground, hovering, or perching and dropping onto unsuspecting prey. Prey is swallowed whole, and indigestible parts are regurgitated as pellets.

When it feeds

Nocturnal, becoming active at dusk and hunting throughout the night. Occasionally seen hunting at dawn or even during the day, especially when feeding young or during periods of low prey availability.

Explore the Barn Owl