Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Long-eared Owl is a slim, medium-sized owl with tall and orange eyes, so well camouflaged that it is hard to spot even when roosting in plain view. It lives across much of the US, and in winter small groups may roost together in dense conifers, willows, or mesquite.

Appearance

Appearance: About 14–16 in (35–40 cm) long with a wingspan of 34–40 in (86–102 cm). Brownish with dark streaks on the belly, a rusty , and long, upright ear tufts. Females are larger than males.
Voice: Soft, low hoots in the breeding season, plus whistles, shrieks, and cat-like calls. It is rarely heard the rest of the year.

Look-alikes

Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus

Great Horned Owls are much bigger and bulkier, with horizontal bars on the belly. Long-eared Owls are slim, have vertical streaks on the belly, and show buff patches on the outer wings in flight.

Why they get mixed upBoth have prominent ear tufts and roost in trees.

Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus

Short-eared Owls have tiny, barely visible tufts and yellow eyes ringed in black, and they hunt over open fields, often in daylight.

Why they get mixed upSame genus, similar size and streaky plumage.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: conifer groves
forest edges
streamside trees
prairie groves
Range: Breeds across much of North America, Europe, and Asia. In the US it is found year-round in many regions, and northern birds move south in winter as far as the southeastern states and Mexico.
Seasonal presence: Year-round in many areas; northern birds migrate or wander with food supplies
Preferred conditions: Needs dense trees for roosting and nesting next to open ground such as meadows or grassland for hunting. It generally avoids unbroken forest.

Behavior

Diet: Mostly small mammals such as voles, deer mice, kangaroo rats, and pocket gophers, plus some small birds, shrews, and bats.
Activity: Hunts at night, flying low over fields and open woods and finding prey by sound as well as sight.
Social life: Unusually social for an owl in winter, gathering in communal roosts of a dozen or more birds.

Life cycle

Nest: Doesn't build its own nest; it takes over old stick nests of crows, ravens, magpies, or hawks, usually 4–30 ft up.
Clutch size: Usually 4–6 white eggs
Incubation: The female incubates alone for about 25–30 days (usually 26–28) while the male brings food.
Fledging: Young climb out onto branches at about 3 weeks, fly short distances at about 5 weeks, and are fed by the male until they disperse at 10–11 weeks.

Name and classification

About the name: Two subspecies live in North America: the eastern wilsonianus, with bolder markings and a rusty face, and the paler western tuftsi.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: Its status is poorly known because it is so secretive, but some surveys and migration counts suggest North American numbers are declining, possibly because of habitat loss.