Long-Eared Owl
Asio otus
Aves › Strigiformes › Strigidae › Asio
Conservation status: least_concern
The Long-eared Owl is a slender, medium-sized owl with distinctive ear-like tufts of feathers on its head, though these are not true ears but rather just decorative plumage. It hunts small mammals at night over open grasslands and fields, relying on its excellent hearing to locate prey in complete darkness.
How To Identify
This sizable owl has mottled brown and buff plumage perfect for camouflage against tree bark. Its defining feature is the noticeable ear tufts, which are often erected or visible, giving it its common name.
Habitat
The Long-Eared Owl lives in mixed woodland edges and conifer plantations.
Behaviour
The Long-Eared Owl communally roosts in winter and hunts over open ground at night.
Native Range
The long-eared owl is native to Europe and the Palearctic, as well as in North America.
Did You Know?
Its ear tufts are not ears at all — the actual ears are asymmetrically placed on the skull.
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