• The wings of the western barn owl are structured so that the ends of the flight feathers muffle the sound of flight, making it soft and silent.

The barn owl has down feathers that are a dense white, which helps retain heat; the adult’s beak is short and strong with a hooked shape, assisting in tearing prey; the adult exhibits asymmetrical ears, enabling precise location of prey by sound; the adult's facial disc is heart-shaped, collecting sounds and directing them to the ears; the adult possesses large, soft wings that allow for nearly silent flight.