Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

Genus · Eared Owls and Allies Family · Typical Owls
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🌙 Night
Activity
🌙 Nocturnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
FarmlandForest deciduousUrban

Very difficult to see during the day. Look for 'pellets' and white droppings at the base of dense conifers. Scan the branches above for a vertical, stick-like silhouette.

Long-eared Owl
Stats
Wingspan86–100 cm
Weight200–430 g
Length31–37 cm
Lifespan wild4–10 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeOld nest
Clutch size3–8 eggs
Incubation25–30 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Carnivore

🐭Mammals
🦅Birds
🦗Insects

Habitat

🚜 Farmland🌳 Forest deciduous🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

The Long-eared Owl rarely builds its own nest. It almost exclusively uses the abandoned stick nests of crows, magpies, or squirrels.

About

A medium-sized, slender owl with prominent ear tufts. These tufts are just feathers and do not help with hearing. It has an light brownish-yellow facial disc and striking orange-yellow eyes. This species lives in woodlands and thickets near open country. It is a strictly nocturnal bird. It spends the day perfectly camouflaged against tree bark.

Behaviour

During the day, these owls roost in dense cover. They stretch their bodies and raise their ear tufts to look like a broken branch. In winter, they are social and may gather in communal roosts of 20 or more birds. They hunt small rodents by flying low and silently over fields. The male's song is a deep, muffled 'hoo-hoo-hoo'.

Similar species

Tawny Owl
🐦
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
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