Barn Owl - Tyto alba
Habitat	Prefers open country near the edge of a woods. Open country can include farm fields, deserts, tundra, savannah, and forest openings. This owl is virtually world-wide in distribution. Can also be found in cities. Nests in hollow trees, old buildings or caves. Home range of an adult pair is about 4 square miles.
Ecological Niche	Nocturnal predator of rodents. Eats little else but mice and small rats. One individual can eat over 1000 mice a year. Only enemies are horned owls and man.
Life Cycle	They lay 5 to 10 eggs in late winter that hatch after 4 weeks. At 3 to 4 weeks, young have developed a running walk. At about 8 weeks of age they begin flying, and are on their own a few weeks later. Life expectancy is 15 years or more.
Behavior and physical adaptations	Due to asymmetrical ears, owls have excellent hearing, which allows them to catch rodents in total darkness. Also they have claws, beaks, and toes adapted to catching, holding, and eating prey.