The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus (previously: Strix otus) is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae.
Long-eared Owl has streaking throughout its ...more ↓
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus (previously: Strix otus) is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae.
Long-eared Owl has streaking throughout its underparts whereas on Short-eared the streaking ends at the breast.
Long-eared owls are active at night. They blend in well with their surroundings, making it very difficult to spot them during the day. The best way to find them is to look for droppings and pellets on the ground. If you happen to see one, it is easy to identify by its ear tufts, which are only decorative. Their real ears are flaps directly next to their eyes that open and close. These owl uses old nests from magpies, crows and various hawks. They will also nest in man-made nesting boxes.
The average clutch size is 4–6 eggs, and the incubation time averages from 25–30 days. It will readily use artificial nesting baskets. An unusual characteristic of this species is its communal roosting in thickets during the winter months. The young have a characteristic call, likened to a rusty hinge.
The Long-eared Owl hunts over open country by night. It is very long winged, like the similar Short-eared Owl, and glides slowly on stiff wings when hunting. Its food is mainly rodents, small mammals, and birds. In Europe it faces competition from the Tawny Owl and is most numerous in localities where the Tawny is absent, notably in Ireland, where it is the dominant owl.
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Birds of Zion National Park
