Long-Eared Owl
Long-Eared Owl Facts
Size | 12-15 inches (31-37 cm) |
Speed | Up to 31 mph (50 km/h) |
Weight | 7.7-13 ounces (220-370 grams) |
Lifespan | 5-11 years |
Food | Mice, voles |
Predators | Eurasian eagle owl, buzzard, northern goshawk, golden eagle |
Distribution | Central Europe, North America, Asia, Eastern Africa |
Habitat | Open woodlands, forest edges, grassland |
Order | Owls |
Family | True owls |
Scientific name | Asio otus |
Characteristics | Owl with long feathered ears and a large, rufous facial disk |
Main Characteristics
The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl with a rufous facial disc and strikingly long ear tufts. The males are known for their deep hooting call every 2-8 seconds.
Distribution and Habitat
Long-eared owls can be found in Central Europe and North America, with some even residing in Asia and East Africa. They prefer habitats like open forests, forest edges, and grasslands. For resting and nesting, they often choose densely packed treetops. When it comes to hunting, they look for open grass areas with low vegetation.
Way of Life
Long-eared owls are nocturnal hunters. You can always find them in areas abundant with mice, voles, and other small rodents. They're solitary creatures and only come together during the mating season.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Long-eared owls are medium-sized birds. They measure 12-15 inches (31-37 cm) in body length and have a wingspan of 34-38 inches (86-98 cm). Their weight is 7.7-13 ounces (220-370 grams). Males tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females.
Appearance
Their long ear tufts make the long-eared owls easily recognizable. They have striking yellow to orange eyes, a black beak, and feathered feet.
Color
The plumage of the long-eared owl is a light brown to grayish-brown with a marbled pattern. The females have a slightly more pronounced pattern and are also darker and more reddish compared to the males.
Facial Disc
When talking about the face of owls, people often mention something called a facial disc. This refers to the round shape of their face and the unique way their facial feathers are arranged. The facial disc is slightly curved, similar to a bowl. This design is similar to that of a satellite dish, allowing them to better capture sounds. The delicate feathers within the disc help to collect sounds and direct them to their ears.
Ear Tufts
Long-eared owls have long ear tufts. However, it's important to note that these ear tufts aren't actually their ears. Their real ears are located on either side of their head, hidden beneath their feathers. The ear tufts serve primarily for camouflage.
Ears
Now let's talk about the real ears! Like all owls, the ears that the long-eared owls actually use for hearing aren't visible from the outside. They are hidden beneath the delicate feathers of their facial disc. One ear is positioned above the eye, roughly at forehead level, while the other is located just below the eye, around the level of the nasal cavity.
Long-Eared Owl vs. Eurasian Eagle-Owl - What's the Difference?
The long-eared owl and the Eurasian eagle-owl can easily be mistaken for one another. Their feathers are almost the same color, and their patterns are really similar, too. They both have feather tufts on their heads. However, with a little practice, you can tell them apart easily. The most noticeable difference is in the facial disc: the Eurasian eagle-owl's is much smaller. Additionally, the Eurasian eagle-owl is significantly larger and bulkier. If you look closely, you can also see that its ear tufts are spaced further apart and are not as long.
Diet
Long-eared owls are carnivorous birds that primarily feed on mice and voles. Depending on the region, they mainly hunt deer mice, harvest mice, prairie voles, and cotton rats. In Europe, they occasionally catch sparrows and greenfinches as well. These owls swallow their prey whole, later regurgitating the bones and fur. They typcially require about 1-3 small rodents or birds each day.
Behavior
Hunting Behavior
Long-eared owls hunt for about 5-6 hours each day. They search for prey by flying approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters) above the ground or by perching in elevated spots. While they have excellent night vision, they primarily rely on their exceptional hearing to locate their prey. Once they detect a potential meal, they swoop down with their sharp talons to capture it.
Camouflage
Long-eared owls are perfectly adapted to life in trees. When they perch on a branch, they can be nearly invisible. Their feather pattern and color resemble tree bark. To enhance their camouflage, they flatten their feathers against their bodies, elongate their shape, stand their ears upright, and close their eyes. At this point, they are almost indistinguishable from a branch or tree trunk.
Defense
Long-eared owls fiercely protect their eggs and chicks. When an enemy approaches, they ruffle their plumage, spread their wings, stomp their feet alternately, and hiss. If that doesn't deter the intruder, they may strike at the predator with their wings or attack with their talons. Occasionally, the parents will even feign injury to draw attention away from their young.
Sounds
Long-eared owls are primarily heard during their mating season. The call of the males is a deep "hoo" that occurs every 2-8 seconds. You can easily mimic it by placing your lips on a bottle and blowing into it. The females have a slightly higher pitch. However, "hoo" isn't their only sound; they can produce over 20 different calls. They squeak like rusty gear, squeal, whistle, caw, or even sound like a cat in distress.
Senses and Abilities
Sense of Sight
Long-eared owls have an exceptional sense of sight. Their eyes are perfectly adapted for seeing in the dark.
Sense of Hearing
Long-eared owls, like all owls, possess an exceptional sense of hearing. This is largely due to the unique positioning of their ears. Unlike humans, an owl's ears are not aligned at the same height. This gives them a significant advantage: they can more accurately determine the direction of sounds. Additionally, sounds are captured by their facial disc and funneled directly to their ears.
Speed
Owls can fly at speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h).
Silent Flight
Long-eared owls glide silently through the air. The edges of their flight feathers are fringed, making them softer and reducing noise while flying. They tuck in their ear tufts during flight, which also helps to minimize sound and decrease air resistance.
Volume
The call of the male long-eared owl can be heard from as far away as 0.6 miles (1 km).
Life Expectancy
In the wild, owls typically live 5-11 years. The oldest recorded long-eared owl in Europe lived to be 27 years and 9 months old. Unfortunately, more than half of the chicks don't survive their first year.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The main enemies of the long-eared owls include Eurasian eagle owls, buzzards, golden eagles, northern goshawks, and peregrine falcons. The chicks often fall prey to crows. In the United States, they are also hunted by raccoons and snakes.
Human Impact
The biggest threat to long-eared owls is the loss of their habitat due to deforestation for livestock farming, animal feed production, and the establishment of settlements and industries.
How Many Are Left?
Long-eared owls are currently not considered an endangered species. According to an estimate from the IUCN in 2021, there are still 2.2-3.7 millions of them worldwide.
Importance for the Ecosystem
Long-eared owls play a crucial role in their ecosystem. They help keep the population of small rodents in check, preventing them from multiplying too quickly.
Reproduction
Mating Season and Courtship
The breeding season for long-eared owls starts in March. The male attracts the female by showcasing his flying skills. He claps his wings together beneath his body, creating a distinctive clattering sound. Once the female agrees, they mate and stay together for the duration of the breeding season.
Nest and Eggs
Long-eared owls don't always build their own nests; instead, they often take over abandoned nests from ravens, crows, or hawks. Between March and May, they typically lay 5-6 eggs. After 25-30 days, the chicks hatch. At birth, they have light gray feathers. When they reach about 30-40 days old, they start to attempt their first flights. By the time they are 11 weeks old, they become independent.
Survival Rates
More than half of the chicks either die in the nest because they're preyed upon by predators, or during their first year due to car accidents or malnutrition.
Fun Facts
The oldest wild long-eared owl lived to be 12 years and one month old. It was banded in New York and was found again in Ontario, Canada, in 1999.
The Long-Eared Owl Is Related to:
- Short-Eared Owl
- Sriped Owl
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Common Blackbird
- Common Buzzard
- Eurasian Eagle-Owl
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
- Marten
- Greenfinch
- May Bug
- Mouse
- Peregrine Falcon
- Raccoon
- Vole
Sources:
- „Post‐fledging survival and dynamics of dispersal in Long‐eared Owls Asio otus“ (https://www.tandfonline.com)
- „Owl Hearing“ (https://www.bto.org)
- „Long-eared Owl“ (https://www.hawkmountain.org)
- „Traffic noise reduces wild owls' foraging efficiency“ (https://phys.org)
- "The probability of nesting success of the Long-Eared Owl“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
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