Long-earred owl

long-earedowl: COMMON NAME: Long-Earred Owl

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Asio otus

DESCRIPTION:

The long "ears" of the long-earred owl are actually only feather tufts located on the top of their head. Their ears are actually on the sides of their head. They are medium-sized owls with large, round heads. They are 13-16" in length with a 36-42" wingspan. Males usually weigh 220-305 grams, while females will weigh 260-435 grams.

The long-earred owl also has grey or brown-grey coloration with lengthwise streaked markings. Due to this and their slim body shape, the owl often remains still and resembles an upright piece of bark or tree limb when disturbed. Their eyes are yellow and their ear tufts are black.

LIFE HISTORY:

Mating season spans from March to mid April. The female can lay 3-10 white, smooth and glossy eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 26-28 days while the male collects food. The young will leave the nest after 21 days, but will not be able to fly for another 14 days.

ECOLOGY:

Though widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, the long-earred owl prefers dense areas such as river woods,thickets, and forests. They will use the abandoned nests of squirrels, crows and hawks 10'-40' above the ground.

A nocturnal hunter, the long-earred owl hunts over open ground, mainly for small rodents, as well as some insects.

animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu, the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology


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