A medium-sized owl of open country — one of the few that hunts during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk. Floppy moth-like flight low over fields.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The short-eared owl is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as 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 found in open country and grasslands.
Source: Wikipedia — Short-eared owl Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium owl with a pale facial disk, black 'mascara' eye patches around yellow eyes, tiny (usually invisible) ear tufts, and buffy underparts streaked on the breast. Bold buff wing patches in flight.
Similar species. Long-eared Owl is slimmer with tall tufts and is strictly nocturnal; the Short-eared's daytime open-country flight and dark eye patches are key.
Voice. A raspy, barking 'waow' and a soft, low 'voo-voo-voo' on the breeding grounds; usually silent otherwise.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small mammals, birds, insects; hunting style varies by species.
Behavior. An owl of open marshes, grasslands, and tundra that hunts by day and dusk with a buoyant, moth-like flight low over the ground; nomadic, following vole abundance.
§ Range
Across North America; widely irruptive
§ Habitat
Open grasslands, marshes, tundra, agricultural fields
§ Threats
Grassland loss to row crops, secondary rodenticide poisoning, vehicle strikes.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the short-eared owl is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support Conservation Reserve Program. Skip rodenticides. Mow fields after July to protect grassland birds.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Short-eared owl
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Asio flammeus
- IUCN Red List — search for Asio flammeus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Asio flammeus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
