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Long-eared Owl Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    Long-eared Owls are medium-sized, slender owls with long ear tufts. The head, roughly as wide as it is long, looks squarish. The facial disks are long and narrow.

    Relative Size

    Smaller than a Great Horned Owl, larger than a Western Screech-Owl.

    Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 13.8-15.8 in (35-40 cm)
      • Weight: 7.8-15.3 oz (220-435 g)
      • Wingspan: 35.4-39.4 in (90-100 cm)

Regional Differences

Western Long-eared Owls tend to have faces that are more orange than those of Eastern birds, but there is much variation in this feature.