The barn owl is often called a “ghost owl” because of its pale appearance and nearly silent flight.
Its light underside can appear ghostly when it crosses a field at night, while its specialized wing feathers reduce turbulence and sound. This helps the owl approach prey without being easily detected.
Barn owls commonly hunt over grassland, farmland, and open woodland. They often fly low while listening for rodents beneath vegetation. Their asymmetrically placed ears and heart-shaped facial disc improve their ability to locate sounds in darkness.
The nickname is informal rather than a scientific classification, and it is not used everywhere. Barn owls also have many regional names, while their formal scientific name, Tyto alba, is used internationally.