Nature
2021.09.16 16:37 GMT+8

Monkey-faced owl couple finds home in SW China botanical garden

Updated 2021.09.16 16:37 GMT+8
CGTN

A barn owl couple has found a home in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The couple has been spotted in the garden for several years, using the tropical forest as their breeding ground.

A barn owl standing in a tree in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, August 28, 2021. /Fang Qiaoran

A female barn own (L) and a male in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, August 28, 2021. /Wang Ying

A barn owl standing in a tree in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, August 28, 2021. /Fang Qiaoran

A barn owl standing in a tree in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, July 23, 2021. /Fang Qiaoran

A barn owl standing in a tree in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, November 6, 2020. /Fang Qiaoran

A barn owl standing in a tree in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, southwest China, November 7, 2020. /Fang Qiaoran

The medium-sized, pale-colored owl has long wings and a short, squarish tail. Females are slightly larger in size than males.

It's also called a monkey-faced owl because of its big round face.

The nocturnal bird can see in daylight, but their pupils don't contract like human eyes, so to block out the extra light, they often close their eyes halfway or more. They might look sleepy or even half asleep, when in fact they are wide awake and alert.

More from the contributor:

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Bird lover's journal: 45 bird species in two days is just not enough

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Bird lover captures bird endemic to southern China's Hainan island

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(All photos by Fang Qiaoran, Wang Ying)

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