Barn owl, England Mar 19, 2023

Barn owl, England

Barn owls, distinguished by their white heart-shaped faces, are one of the world"s most widespread birds, found on every continent except Antarctica. They live in woodlands, farms, and on cliffs, but barn owls also enjoy roosting in places like bell towers and barns—hence the name. They are nighttime predators that fly over open lands to hunt rats and mice. During heavy rain, they are unable to hunt because their feathers aren"t waterproof, leaving them vulnerable to starvation during long periods of wet weather. Although some see them as a symbol of wisdom and fortune, their haunting cries and ghostly appearance mean they have often been seen as bad omens in rural areas.

© Ondrej Prosicky/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Mar 19, 2018Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge in Taitung, Taiwan
Mar 19, 2019The smoke before the bonfire
Mar 19, 2020Sunburst at Angkor
Mar 19, 2021Life carries on, rising from a ship s skeleton
Mar 19, 2022Chicagohenge
Mar 19, 2024Spring equinox
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy feeding in Botswana
Mar 19, 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 18, 2020A stroll above the stratosphere
May 26, 2025Memorial Day
Apr 10, 2018It’s Siblings Day!
Jun 2, 2022Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
Jun 1, 2019Hiking the High Trestle Trail
May 24, 2020Let s get lost
Oct 22, 2021Jasper Dark Sky Festival
May 24, 2022European Day of Parks
Jan 5, 2022National Bird Day
Jun 16, 2022Seonam Temple, South Korea
Jan 20, 2019It’s Penguin Awareness Day
Oct 28, 2018Do spirits haunt the Gardens of Versailles?
Feb 2, 2021Did it see its shadow?
Jul 15, 2024Marine Day, Japan
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formations in Mono Lake, California
Nov 5, 2018Ludwig’s palace
Dec 12, 2022Poinsettia Day
Feb 12, 2021The cycle begins anew
Jun 24, 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
Oct 3, 2020In the belly of Fat Bear Week
Nov 12, 2024Arches National Park anniversary
Oct 28, 2021Necropolis of Dargavs
Jan 12, 2024Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
Oct 13, 2021Celebrating a young girl s age-old discovery
Jan 21, 2022National Hug Day
Mar 15, 2023Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
Apr 8, 2023The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
Apr 21, 2021Exploring the Pearl of the Atlantic
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
Apr 29, 2018National Park Week: Olympic National Park, Washington