Barn Owl

The heart-shaped facial disk on the face of a barn owl acts like a parabolic or radar dish that helps to direct sounds into the ears. Like some other owls, barn owls' ears are not symmetrical. One ear opening is higher than the other. This asymmetry allows barn owls to pinpoint sounds of their prey much faster than we can. Using these adaptations, barn owls have the most acute hearing of any bird. They can find their prey in complete darkness just by listening. Barn owls do not hoot. Instead, they make a raspy, screeching call.