Barn Owl

Owls have remarkable hearing as well as exceptional abilities at locating its prey in nearly complete darkness.  Two physical adaptations make this possible.  First, the ear openings are asymmetric, with one slightly higher on the head than the other.  This allows the sound waves to reach the eardrums at different times which allows for more accurate triangulation.  Second, the feathers on each side of the face form a natural “bowl” (aka, parabolic dish) that collects and directs the sound towards the ear openings.  For more information, read the nice textbook “Birds by Night” written by Graham Martin.