Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of the typical owl family Strigidae. Owls belonging to the genus Asio, such as the Short-eared Owl, are known as the eared owls since they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may not be visible. The Short-eared Owl will display its tufts when in a defensive pose although its very short tufts are usually not visible.
The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl 13 to 17 inches in length with a 33 to 43 inches wingspan. Females are slightly larger than males. It has large yellow eyes with black encircling rings, a big head, a short neck and broad wings. The bill is short, strong, hooked and black. The plumage is mottled tawny to brown with a barred tail and wings. The upper breast is significantly streaked. The flight is characteristically floppy due to the irregular wingbeats and the Short-eared Owl is often described as "moth-like” or bat-like" in flight.
Through much of its range, the Short-eared Owl occurs with the similar looking Long-eared Owl. At rest, the ear-tufts of the Long-eared Owl serve to easily distinguish the 2 species although the Long-eared Owl can sometimes hold its ear-tufts flat. The iris colour also differs: yellow in the Short-eared Owl and orange in the Long-eared Owl plus the black surrounding the eyes is vertical on the Long-eared Owl and horizontal on the Short-eared Owl. Overall, the Short-eared Owl tends to be a paler, sandier coloured bird than the Long-eared Owl.
There are 10 recognized sub-species of the Short-eared Owl and its range covers all continents except Antarctica and Australia. It therefore has one of the most widespread distributions of any bird. It is partially migratory and moves south in winter from the northern parts of its range. The Short-eared Owl is also known to relocate to areas of higher rodent populations and it will also wander nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low.
In the UK, the Short-eared Owl breeds primarily in north England and Scotland but it is seen more widely in winter when there is an influx of continental birds from Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland to north, east and parts of central south England, especially around coastal marshes and wetlands.
The breeding season of the Short-eared Owl in the northern hemisphere lasts from March to June but peaks in April. During the breeding season, the male makes a great spectacle of itself in flight to attract a female. The male swoops down over the potential nest site flapping its wings in a courtship display. The Short-eared Owl is generally monogamous and nests on the ground in prairie, tundra, savanna or meadow habitats. The nest is concealed by low vegetation and may be lightly lined by weeds, grass or feathers. The female lays 4 to 7 eggs but clutch size can reach up to 12 eggs in years when voles are abundant. There is a single brood per year. The eggs are incubated mostly by the female for 21 to 37 days and the young fledge at a little over 4 weeks.
The Short-eared Owl hunts mostly at night but it is known as a diurnal and crepuscular hunter as well. Its daylight hunting seems to coincide with the high activity periods of voles, its preferred prey. It tends to fly only a few feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. The diet of the Short-eared Owl consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals such as mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats and moles. It will also occasionally predate smaller birds especially when near sea coasts and adjacent wetlands at which time they may attack waders, terns and small gulls and seabirds. Avian prey is more infrequently preyed on inland and includes small passerines. Insects also supplement the diet.
Date: 25th November 2023
Location: RSPB Wallasea Island, Essex
The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl 13 to 17 inches in length with a 33 to 43 inches wingspan. Females are slightly larger than males. It has large yellow eyes with black encircling rings, a big head, a short neck and broad wings. The bill is short, strong, hooked and black. The plumage is mottled tawny to brown with a barred tail and wings. The upper breast is significantly streaked. The flight is characteristically floppy due to the irregular wingbeats and the Short-eared Owl is often described as "moth-like” or bat-like" in flight.
Through much of its range, the Short-eared Owl occurs with the similar looking Long-eared Owl. At rest, the ear-tufts of the Long-eared Owl serve to easily distinguish the 2 species although the Long-eared Owl can sometimes hold its ear-tufts flat. The iris colour also differs: yellow in the Short-eared Owl and orange in the Long-eared Owl plus the black surrounding the eyes is vertical on the Long-eared Owl and horizontal on the Short-eared Owl. Overall, the Short-eared Owl tends to be a paler, sandier coloured bird than the Long-eared Owl.
There are 10 recognized sub-species of the Short-eared Owl and its range covers all continents except Antarctica and Australia. It therefore has one of the most widespread distributions of any bird. It is partially migratory and moves south in winter from the northern parts of its range. The Short-eared Owl is also known to relocate to areas of higher rodent populations and it will also wander nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low.
In the UK, the Short-eared Owl breeds primarily in north England and Scotland but it is seen more widely in winter when there is an influx of continental birds from Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland to north, east and parts of central south England, especially around coastal marshes and wetlands.
The breeding season of the Short-eared Owl in the northern hemisphere lasts from March to June but peaks in April. During the breeding season, the male makes a great spectacle of itself in flight to attract a female. The male swoops down over the potential nest site flapping its wings in a courtship display. The Short-eared Owl is generally monogamous and nests on the ground in prairie, tundra, savanna or meadow habitats. The nest is concealed by low vegetation and may be lightly lined by weeds, grass or feathers. The female lays 4 to 7 eggs but clutch size can reach up to 12 eggs in years when voles are abundant. There is a single brood per year. The eggs are incubated mostly by the female for 21 to 37 days and the young fledge at a little over 4 weeks.
The Short-eared Owl hunts mostly at night but it is known as a diurnal and crepuscular hunter as well. Its daylight hunting seems to coincide with the high activity periods of voles, its preferred prey. It tends to fly only a few feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. The diet of the Short-eared Owl consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals such as mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats and moles. It will also occasionally predate smaller birds especially when near sea coasts and adjacent wetlands at which time they may attack waders, terns and small gulls and seabirds. Avian prey is more infrequently preyed on inland and includes small passerines. Insects also supplement the diet.
Date: 25th November 2023
Location: RSPB Wallasea Island, Essex
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