Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl, adult; Kern Co., CA; September

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A bird of temperate forests, the Long-eared Owl roosts and nests in trees by day and hunts in open areas by night. Though widespread and relatively common in its range, it is rarely seen.

Description

• Medium-sized owl.
• Mostly brown and cryptically marked.
• Conspicuous "ear" tufts.
• Orange facial disk.
• White feathers form an X between eyes.

• Size: 35-40 cm (14-16 in)
• Wingspan: 90-100 cm (35-39 in)
• Weight: 220-435 g (7.77-15.36 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, male usually paler and smaller than female.

Sound

Song of male is an even hoot, repeated every two to four seconds. Alarm calls vary; most common alarm call resembles barking.

Conservation Status

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.

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.

Sources used to construct this page:

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.