Silence is Golden Barn owls haunt grasslands, parks, and marshes on every continent except Antarctica. T ese long-legged raptors have adapted to life near people and are oſt en spotted by them. T ese owls are nocturnal. By night, they


swoop over open fields and look for food. By day, they rest in hollow trees, cracks in cliff s, church steeples, or barns. As the wind passes over most birds’


feathers, it makes a whooshing sound. Owl wings are diff erent. When owls fly, they are silent. Why? Owls have adaptations that make them


quiet. Owls usually have more feathers than other birds. T eir wing feathers have a soſt surface. T is cuts down on the sound of them rubbing together. T e front edges of their wings have a series of small, firm feathers. T ey look like a tiny comb. Most of the wing is made up of soſt feathers. On the back edge, fine feathers flow like a scarf. When a barn owl flies, wind rushes over


its wings. T e comb-like feathers at the front break up the rushing air. T is creates tiny whirls that roll along the wing. T e soſt feathers absorb sound. Velvety down feathers on the owl’s legs also absorb sound. Silent flight is important to owls. It


allows owls to better hear prey. If their wings made noise, they could not hear the soſt sounds of the animals moving below. Also, silent flight doesn’t give them away.


Mice and other small animals can’t hear them coming. So owls can sneak up on prey and attack.


4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


The feathers on a barn owl’s face are arranged in a way to help funnel sound to its ears.


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