Although they are classified as raptors, owls are very different from many other birds of prey in their anatomy, feather structure, and hunting techniques. They are noted for their large head and large eyes which are fixed in the skull, making it necessary for them to rotate their heads in order to change their view.
Owls also have a distinctive facial disk which helps to direct sound towards the ears.
The flight of an owl is almost noiseless due to tiny fringelike structures found along the outer edge of each feather. This allows an owl to fly silently toward its prey without detection. The name comes from the barring or banding of alternating colors over most of the bird's body. The beak is yellow or grayish white and the eyes are a dark brown. Barred owls range from 16 to 25 inches in length with a wingspan of 38 to 50 inches.