Short-eared Owl Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Long-eared Owl
Adult
Long-eared Owls have more prominent ear tufts than Short-eared Owls with a cinnamon facial disc.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 04, 2007Similar Species
Barn Owl
Adult
Barn Owls have a white facial disc and dark eyes while Short-eared Owls have a brownish facial disc with smudgy patches around their yellow eyes.
© Darren Clark | Macaulay LibraryIdaho, January 21, 2017Similar Species
Northern Harrier
Immature
Northern Harriers hunt in the same habitats with a similar flight style, but they have smaller heads, longer tails, and more pointed wings.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, February 21, 2017Similar Species
Northern Harrier
Adult male
Northern Harriers show a bold white rump patch in flight that Short-eared Owls lack.
© Tim Avery | Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 23, 2017Main Species
Short-eared Owl
Adult (Northern)
Medium-sized owl with a rounded head and tiny ear tufts that are difficult to see. Heavily streaked overall with dark eye patches and whitish face.
© Tim Lenz | Macaulay LibraryNevada, January 01, 2013Adult (Northern)
In flight look for barred wing tips. Hunts during daylight, flying low over short vegetation with a mothlike quality.
© Lizabeth Southworth | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 27, 2019Adult
Perches in the open and flies low over open areas with deep and somewhat mothlike wingbeats. This video has no audio.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 16, 2007Not all videos have sound
Adult (Hawaiian)
Widespread owl with variation in plumage color. Heavily streaked and sometimes spotted looking overall with dark eye patches and a whitish face.
© Eric Gustafson | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, January 24, 2020Adult (Northern)
Ear tufts are small and difficult to see. Heavily streaked overall with black eye patches, yellow eyes, and a whitish face.
© Pavel Štěpánek | Macaulay LibraryJihomoravský kraj, April 19, 2019Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Owls(Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.