Ever wondered what a barn owl actually has for dinner? In this episode of Talkin Wildlife, young Poppy Barnes puts that very question to wise old Oscar Wiseowl, and he's more than happy to tell her all about it.
It's a short, light hearted video for anyone who likes learning about wildlife without it feeling like a lesson. Have a read below first if you like, then press play whenever you're ready.
Press play when you're ready. You can also watch it on YouTube.
What you'll find out
Oscar and Poppy chat through the barn owl's favourite foods, how they find them in the dark, and what happens to all the bits they can't digest. Here are some of the facts behind the episode.
- Field voles come first. Here in the UK, the field vole is the barn owl's number one meal. Voles live in rough, tussocky grass, which is why barn owls love field edges, ditches and riverbanks.
- Shrews, mice and the odd surprise. Barn owls also catch common shrews and wood mice, plus the occasional young rat, small bird or frog when voles are harder to find.
- Three to five a night. An adult barn owl usually eats around three to five small animals every night. A family with hungry owlets needs a lot more, so the parents can be out hunting for hours.
- Swallowed whole. Barn owls usually gulp their food down in one go, head first. No chewing involved!
- Owl pellets. The fur and bones they can't digest are coughed up later as a neat, dark pellet. Pull one apart and you'll often find tiny skulls, which tell you exactly what the owl has been eating.
- Good years and lean years. Vole numbers go up and down over a few years. When voles are plentiful, barn owls raise bigger families, and when they're scarce, some pairs don't breed at all.
Meet your hosts
Before anyone writes in, yes, I know real barn owls don't talk! Poppy and Oscar are animated characters I created for the Talkin Wildlife series, as a fun and friendly way to share proper barn owl facts. Everything they say is based on real barn owl behaviour, much of it seen on our own cameras here in the Peak District.
Want to know more?
- 📖 Read my full written guide: What do barn owls eat?
- 📄 Download the free What Do Barn Owls Eat fact sheet, handy for nature walks or keeping by the computer.
- 🎬 Watch the other episode: How to tell a male from a female barn owl
- 🧠 Test yourself with the free wildlife and barn owl quiz
- 🦉 See Buster bringing food home on the live barn owl camera
Questions people ask
What do barn owls eat most?
In the UK, barn owls mainly eat field voles. They also catch shrews, wood mice and sometimes young rats, small birds or frogs.
How much does a barn owl eat in a night?
An adult barn owl usually eats around three to five small animals a night, and a family with owlets needs many more.
Do barn owls chew their food?
No. Barn owls usually swallow their prey whole, head first, then cough up the fur and bones later as a pellet.
Is this video suitable for children?
Yes. It's a gentle, friendly video presented by two animated barn owls, ideal for families, schools and anyone who loves wildlife.
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Thanks for watching,
Paul 🦉