Sable, born two years ago at the Hereford Owl Rescue, has a genetic mutation that gives her jet-black feathers, said Baroness Sasa Vonbarth und Kippenruer, who runs the rescue.

In the wild, barn owls born with dark feathers are killed at birth because the parents won't feed it if the chick isn't white-feathered, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Sable, whose mutation makes her physically stronger than most barn owls, is one of three black barn owls being raised in captivity in England, said Vonbarth und Kippenruer, noting even with her greater strength, Sable would be killed by wild owls if ever released into the wild fend for herself.

Barn owls, once on the decline in Britain, now number about 8,000 breeding pairs, the Telegraph said.