Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Gallery

6 photos available

Geographic Distribution

Quick Facts

Size
33 - 37 cm
Weight
200 - 400 g
Diet
Small mammals (voles, mice, shrews), Birds (songbirds, game birds), Insects (grasshoppers, crickets)

Habitat

Open fieldsGrasslandsWetlandsAgricultural areasCoastal areas

Behavior

  • Hunts during the day and at night, using its acute hearing and exceptional vision
  • Perches on fence posts, trees, or other elevated spots to scan for prey
  • Engages in a unique, wing-clapping display during courtship
  • Breeds in open fields, grasslands, and wetlands, often in small colonies
  • Migrates to warmer regions during the winter months