Barn owl feathers are extremely soft and have a specially evolved edge that curves inwards.

They also have specialised flight feathers on the leading edge of their wings (small comb like structure) that allows them to fly silently by cushioning the noise of air turbulence and changing the flow of air.

However these soft feathers can also be their undoing in the wild. The feathers are very absorbant and if they become too wet it's weight can increase by a third of it's normal weight, making it difficult to fly. If they are unable to fly, they are also unable to hunt, this means because we are getting longer, wetter winters due to climate change many Barn Owls, especially youngsters in their first year will die.