Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus

Description, Range, Breeding, Threats, and Fascinating Facts

Jun 5, 2008

The Short-eared Owl is found almost everywhere. It migrates widely and is familiar because it's active during the day and hunts in the open.

The Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, is about the size of a crow. Light brown on the back, the birds have a lighter grayish or brown streaked breast, and yellow eyes ringed with black. A black band at the wrist, visible when the owl is in flight, is helpful for identification (but also consider the similar Long-eared Owl). The small “ears” are only seen when the bird is alarmed.

Where to See a Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. It breeds in the cooler temperate zones, and though it’s nomadic, it is present in many localities year round especially where winters are mild.

During the breeding season Short-eared Owls nest on the ground, sometimes in colonies, hiding the nests in tall grasses. In their winter range, they sometimes roost in groups of hundreds of birds, typically on the ground in overgrown fields and tall grasses, or in clumps of evergreens near open ground. When there’s deep snow, they’ll roost in the trees.

Short-eared Owls are often active during the day, and can be seen hunting for small rodents in open areas. The owls fly close to the ground and are noted for their erratic, bounding, hovering flight reminiscent of a butterfly. A hovering bird that sees prey dives toward the ground and carries its catch away in its talons. Short-eared owls often hunt while standing on the ground as well, or perching on a fence post in a characteristically horizontal position. Besides rodents, they take insects and small birds, particularly shore birds along coastlines.

Short-eared Owl Breeding

Asio flammeus breeds in the cooler parts of its range, scraping out a shallow nest on the ground and laying up to fourteen eggs (usually five to seven). Because the nest is so vulnerable, young grow quickly, venturing from the nest after just a couple of weeks and fledging in as little as a month. Pairs often raise a second brood in the same season.

Threats to Short-eared Owls

Though doing well generally, the species is declining in North America and because it migrates to areas where food is abundant, the owl is rare in some parts of its range.

Predators include birds of prey such as Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls and other species that hunt during the day, foxes, coyotes, skunks etc. Birds such as crows steal eggs from nests. Other threats to Short-eared Owls include agricultural development of grasslands and plowing of fields, and a short life span (typically less than five years).

Facts About Short-eared Owls

Here are some things you may not know about Short-eared Owls:

Because they are attracted to open ground, they tend to hang around airports, a situation dangerous for both owls and planes.
While courting, they engage in loud wing flapping, and males perform elaborate flight displays.
When threatened these owls sometimes pretend to be dead to avoid being attacked.
Individuals of this species have been known to live thirteen years in the wild.

Read About Skor, a Short-eared Owl tracked with a satellite transmitter for several months in 2007. (Migration Research Foundation).

Sources:

Birds of North America. Kaufman, Kenn. New York: Houghton Mifflin; 2000

"Short-eared Owl – Asio flammeus." Lewis, Deane P. The Owl Pages. (See link above.)

"Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Species Profile." Migration Research Foundation. (See link above.)

Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Floyd, Ted. New York: HarperCollins; 2008.

The copyright of the article Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus in Wild Birds is owned by Rosemary Drisdelle. Permission to republish Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.