Masked barn owls: “crooked” head and strange shapes, but this is an ideal costume for hunting in impenetrable forests (6 photos)

In principle, both people and animals need masks for the same thing: to protect their faces or to remain incognito. Masked barn owls took the second path, and became one of the most inconspicuous birds on the planet!





Reliable sources say that all 3 species of masked barn owls live in the Republic of Congo, India and Southeast Asia. Even homosapiens can hide here; the area is full of secluded and poorly studied corners. There are enough places for our heroines, they like the dense forests growing a kilometer above sea level.



Barn owls disappear into dense vegetation; even their size does not give them away. The children's height ranges between 23 and 33 cm, and their weight is around 300 grams. A slender body is the calling card of all owls. And if you remember that it comes with slender legs, you understand that our friends could make an excellent career in the modeling business. However, birds of prey are not interested in fashion shows - that is not what they have evolved for since prehistoric times.





No, this is not a dent in the skull! Yes, that's how it should be!

The spotted camouflage coloring allows the owls to blend into the terrain, and the mask further enhances camouflage. A tuft of feathers in the shape of an inverted triangle distorts the shape of the owl's round face. The gaze of large predators is simply not able to catch on to a stationary bird; during the day the bird is practically invisible. Well, the barn owl itself perfectly sees potential opponents and is ready to take off into rapid flight.



Unless absolutely necessary, the owl brethren prefer to hunt at night. Our friends' main dish is rodents and bats. Insects and reptiles suffering from insomnia will also be consumed. Animals cannot be saved by perfect hearing and excellent vision: masked barn owls fly almost silently, the flight feathers independently dampen the sounds of flight, and their small dimensions help them squeeze through the dense thicket.



The silent mode is turned off only when Mother Nature calls to reproduce; the forests become noisy with mating calls. However, not for long, having found each other, the couple calms down and begins to engage in a quiet family routine. They set up a nest in an inconspicuous hollow, the mother lays up to 5 eggs and incubates them, and the father takes care of the supply. The secretive nature of the birds does not contribute to their study, but the closest relatives raise the babies in 3 months. 1 is spent on incubation, another 2 on training the hatched birds.



What can I say, we don’t even know how long they live! In general, the barn owl family is quite familiar to people, but these animals continue to stubbornly elude the eyes of scientists and seem to be telling us: “Don’t brag about your achievements and extensive knowledge, there will always be those who can outplay you.”