Barn Owls flying hunting

Photos of Barn Owls hunting on the wing in the wild taken by professional wildlife photographers. You can find more galleries here.

Barn Owls often find prey in long grass. They silently fly back and forth over an area, low and slow, until their sensitive eyes and ears pick up sound or movement. When Barn Owls attack, they dive face-first before turning to scoop the prey up in their talons.

Because Barn Owls cannot store much body fat, they must conserve energy in cold or wet weather. In winter, they are much more likely to hunt by perching near suitable areas and waiting for prey to happen by.

Craig Jones

Nick Sampford

Ed Mackerrow

These images have been generously provided by Barn Owl Trust staff and supporters. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.
If you are interested in photographing owls yourself, it is important to know about the legal protections in place to prevent the disturbance of wild Barn Owls and their nesting sites. You can read more about photography and licensing here.