Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 13.8–15.7 in
35–40 cm - Wingspan
- 35.4–39.4 in
90–100 cm - Weight
- 7.8–15.3 oz
220–435 g
Other Names
- Hibou moyen-duc (French)
- Buho chico (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- It has been shown under controlled conditions that the Long-eared Owl can catch mice in complete darkness.
- Like some other owls, the Long-eared Owl has asymmetrical ear openings: the left ear opening is higher than the right. This positioning helps the bird to locate prey by sound.
- The hoot of the male Long-eared Owl can sometimes be heard up to 1 kilometer (0.7 mi) away.
Habitat
Forest
Dense vegetation adjacent to open grassland or shrubland, and open forests.
Food
Mammals
Small mammals; sometimes birds.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–10 eggs
- Egg Description
- White.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless, eyes closed, covered in white down.
Nest Description
Uses stick nests built by other bird species, including Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, and hawks. In rare cases, nests in cavities.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Soaring
Hunts almost exclusively at night. Flies low over open ground, locating prey by ear. Kills prey with a bite to the back of the skull; often swallows prey whole.
Conservation
Least Concern
Listed as Endangered in Illinois, Threatened in Iowa, and as a species of special concern in several states. Habitat loss from land development is the probable cause of declines in California and New Jersey.
Credits
- Marks, J. S., D. L. Evans, and D. W. Holt. 1994. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus). In The Birds of North America, No. 133 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.