✭ A very unique characteristic of the long-eared owl is its pattern of communal roosting during winter. Instead, they usually appropriate stick nests built in trees by other bird species—commonly Black-billed Magpies, American Crows, Common Ravens, and various hawks. Explore Birds of the World to learn more. Long-eared Owls hunt on the wing, coursing back and forth low above open ground. It has a wingspan of about 34-39 inches. They occur at elevations ranging from near sea level to above 6,500 feet. Notably, their shape helps them hide from predators, and the color of their plumage provides them with a good camouflage, while perched. Marks, Jeffrey S., Dave L. Evans and Denver W. Holt. The long-eared owl gets its name from these ear tufts and not from its ears. These alternate common names include several highly descriptive terms. ✭ The long-eared owl is typically found in Europe, Asia, and North America, and dwells in thick woods. A. and A. S. Love. Older nestlings are called “branchers” because they leave the nest to take up residence in surrounding trees. We hope you enjoy this website. One of the earliest depictions of owls in art is a long-eared owl that was etched in a cave in France over 30,000 years ago. • They use their excellent sense of hearing to hunt for prey at night, often hunting in open country. The ear tufts are close together, long, black and rufous, and are not visible in flight. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. They move around by jumping, hopping, and pulling themselves up with wings and bill. However, the animal also possesses several other common names. In some areas, including in Michigan and western Oregon, Long-eared owl nests are found in coniferous or deciduous forests near open meadows. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. ✭ Usually, it nests in coniferous trees. Less often, they raise their young in cavities in trees or cliffs, in abandoned squirrel nests, or on the ground. There are essentially two commonly accepted families of owls viz., the true or the typical owls and the barn owls. ✭ The females are in charge of incubating the eggs, while the males hunt for food to feed the females and the young ones. The long-eared owl is common throughout Europe except for the most northern parts.. Although little is known about this owl in Britain, on a recent trip to Italy we were surprised to find the Long-Eared named as the “Common Owl”. Copyright © Bird Eden & Buzzle.com, Inc. The Long-eared owl has relatively large ear slits placed asymmetrically on the sides of its head; the left ear is placed higher and right lower which allows the birds to absorb sound both from above and below. They hunt over open ground or below the canopy in sparsely forested areas. The incubation period begins the moment the first egg is laid and lasts for about 25 to 30 days. Interestingly, despite their large and tall appearance, the long-eared owls are the slimmest species of owls, especially in the whole of North America. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY, USA. They kill small mammals with a bite to the back of the skull, and often swallow their prey whole. ✭ Although the young ones leave the nest after about 24 days of their birth, they are unable to take flight unless they are about 34 days old. The Long Eared Owl is one that definitely has prominent ears and that is where their name comes from. Voice: During the courting season a penetrating ’00-00-00′, also semi-whistling sounds. The long-eared owl (Asio otus), also known as the northern long-eared owl or, more informally, as the lesser horned owl or cat owl, is a medium-sized species of owl with an extensive breeding range. ✭ The average lifespan of a long-eared owl is 25 to 30 years. Let’s take a look at some fascinating facts about the long-eared owl through this BirdEden post. Wingspan: 85 to 90 cm. They have four subspecies. In Idaho, large numbers of Long-eared Owls nest in willows, cottonwoods, and junipers adjacent to shrubsteppe; in several western states these owls also often build their nests in brushy vegetation adjacent to open habitats. Courting males make a complex series of calls and perform an aerial, zigzagging display over suitable nesting habitat, with glides and winbgeats interspersed with wing-claps. Long-eared Owls typically use stick nests abandoned by other bird species. If disturbed during its daytime roost, the long-eared owl raises its ear tufts, flattens its feathers, and freezes like a statue, thus resembling a tree bark. Helpless, eyes closed, covered with white down. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! ✭ The erect-standing ear tufts make the owl appear larger than the other owls, while it perches. The long-eared owl enjoys a diet made up of small mammals, particularly voles and mice. They have orange facial disk. Nest cups average about 2.5 inches deep and 8.5 inches in diameter. Today, there are as many as 200 existing species of owls, apart from a few species which are now extinct. [2] In 2300 BC, the Sumerians depicted Lilitu, the goddess of death , as a winged woman with feet like an owl's, a crown similar to an owl's ear tuft, and two owls for companions. Owls are birds of prey, which are found everywhere, except the continent of Antarctica. Long-eared owls usually form monogamous pairs. During the winter when food is scarce, it has been known to eat small birds. Populations may be on the decline. The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl, smaller in size than a woodpigeon. Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix Perspicillata) is a large owl and it is native to the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil as well as Central America. Bonding probably begins in winter, before communal roosts disband. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. ✭ Females are bigger than males and weigh about 9.9 ounces, while males weigh about 8.6 ounces. However, the predators for the adult ones are barred owls and great horned owls. They are mostly solitary and nocturnal creatures who rest during the day and hunt during the night, as they can see very clearly in the dark. Long-Eared Owl – Asio otus Description. Let's take a look at some fascinating facts about the long-eared owl through this BirdEden post. There are essentially four recognized sub-species of the long-eared owl. ✭ However, in North America, and especially in the state of Connecticut, this owl species is ‘endangered’. Find out more about these amazing birds with these chilling owl facts. Quick Facts . ✭ The owl is of a medium size and stands about 12 to 16 inches tall. ✭ On the other hand, in Europe, the tawny owl (Strix aluco) gives a tough competition to the long-eared owl, as a predator. Length: 34 cm. Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family:Strigidae). When hunting, it sweeps through open country, flying to and fro in a zig-zag pattern while scanning the ground for food. Back to top, Long-eared Owls eat mostly small mammals, including voles, many kinds of mice, kangaroo rats, shrews, pocket gophers, and young rats or rabbits. ✭ The eye disks are one of the important distinguishing markers of this species of owl. The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is one of the species belonging to the typical owls (Strigidae) family. (2019). The facial disc is rufous with white a patch below the bill. Long-eared Owl Bird Habitat. Depending on the species, owls stand from 4 to 27 inches tall. These brown and white birds cryptically marked, which means they blend into the background. These are used in various parts of its range. 2017. The Long-eared owl has relatively large ear slits placed asymmetrically on the sides of its head; the left ear is placed higher and right lower which allows the birds to absorb sound both from above and below. The wing span though can cover about 40 inches. Females are larger than males. Longevity records of North American birds. Outside of breeding season, the owls roost in groups of up to 100 birds. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. They also sometimes eat small birds, capturing them on the ground or (in the case of roosting birds) from low vegetation. Males make more than 200 sounds, which are primarily low-pitched, while a female’s call comes out as a much higher sound. They may also hover over prey, or hunt from perches in strong winds. They are only about 16 inches tall when they are fully grown. Back to top, Long-eared Owls are fairly common, but their numbers fluctuate from year to year and their population trends are difficult to determine because of their secretive nature and tendency to move nomadically. Due to its ear structure, the hearing of a Long-eared owl … It breeds thinly across the UK with fewer birds in the south-west and Wales. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The male and female have like plumage. Let’s take a look at some fascinating facts about the long-eared owl through this BirdEden post. Due to this statue-like pose with erect ear tufts, the bird was once known as the cat owl. Fun Facts for Kids. It often looks long and thin, with head feathers (known as ear tufts, even though they are not ears) which it raises when alarmed. The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition. Long-eared Owls may nest in artificial baskets and open-fronted nest boxes. Often, large, abandoned nests of other birds or even squirrels are used for nesting. Long-eared Owls roost in dense vegetation and forage in open grasslands or shrublands; also open coniferous or deciduous woodlands. The oldest recorded age of a wild long-eared owl till date is 27 years and 9 months. Long-Eared Owl Behavior. The long-eared owl, a medium-sized bird of prey, is a fairly common inhabitant of temperate forests. The earliest instance of owls featured in art was found as an image of a long-eared owl etched onto the Chauvet cave in France. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. The eggs are pure white. Owls can live up to 25 years old. These cookies do not store any personal information. These, as mentioned before, are found everywhere in the world. Owl Facts . ✭ These owls have brown feathers, which have dark-colored vertical streaks on them. Essential Facts . Bouyant, mothlike flight with silent wing beats. However, in areas where the tawny owl is less abundant or absent altogether, the long-eared owl is found in more numbers. ✭ According to statistics by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the long-eared owl has been included in the ‘Least Concern’ list, which means that they do not face the fear of extinction in the near future. Long-eared Owl are are on the 2016 State of North America's Birds' Watch List, which lists bird species that are most at risk of extinction without significant conservation actions to reverse declines and reduce threats. Long-Eared Owl Scientific Name In Arizona, these owls sometimes nest in crooks of saguaro cactus. Long-eared owls are quiet most of the year, except during mating season, when they make a lot of hooting sounds. Long-eared Owl: Medium-sized owl with gray-brown body with pale bars and heavy streaks on underparts. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As it senses any danger, long-eared owl makes a series of “ooack-ooack” kind of sounds. ✭ This nocturnal bird leaves its nest during the night and glides on stiff wings, in order to hunt for its prey. The scientific name is from Latin.The genus name Asio is a type of eared owl, and otus also refers to a small, eared owl. And long “ whooo ” or a softer and often musical “ whooo-whooo-whooo ” is! To procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your browsing experience may nest in of! The nest to take up residence in surrounding trees, this owl species is ‘ endangered ’,. ✭ the owl appear larger than the other owls, while it perches but! 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