Exposure to sulfur-rich volcanic soil may increase production of pheomelanin, a pigment that gives a reddish tint to the feathers of barn owls living on remote volcanic islands Barn owls (Tyto alba) ...

Flying slowly and silently through the night sky, barn owls are majestic nocturnal hunters that successfully prey on rodents scurrying along the ground below. Scientists have long puzzled over a ...

Life on a volcanic isle appears to give barn owls a blush of red-brown plumage. The high-sulfur environment on such islands influences the birds’ coloration, researchers report March 13 in the Journal ...

Q: I’m a big owl fan and have seen several kinds, especially the great horned owl. But I wonder: Why I don’t ever see short-eared owls? A: These tawny owls with their dramatically outlined eyes spend ...

White barn owls scare the bejesus out of their rodent prey, making them easier to catch. Image Credit: Alexandre Roulin, University of Lausanne Share Being white can make it tough to blend in—if ...