Short-eared owl

The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a medium sized owl that is similar in size to the tawny owl but larger than the barn owl. Unlike its cousin the long-eared owl it is diurnal, which means that it hunts by day rather than by night. It is to be found in marshy areas and also moors, dunes and damp meadows near ponds and lakes.

It is found throughout continental Europe, but in England breeds only in the northern half of the country, as well as in Scotland and western Wales. In other parts of England it is a winter visitor, and in northern Scotland it is a summer migrant.

Outside Europe, the short-eared owl is very widespread, being found on all the continents except Australia and Antarctica. Ten distinct subspecies have been identified in various parts of the world.

Appearance

The short-eared owl is around 36-39 centimetres (14-15.5 inches) in length, and stocky in build with long tapering wings and a wedge-shaped tail. The face is whitish, with yellow black-rimmed eyes. The “ears” are not ears at all, but short tufts above the eyes that are often difficult to see. The plumage, which is similar as between males and females, is mottled tawny and buff above with heavy streaking on the throat and chest. The underparts are much lighter, as are the undersides of the wings apart from the black wingtips.

Behaviour

In flight the short-eared owl wavers and soars, and also glides with the wings held forward in a shallow V. They can hover over a single spot when watching their prey (such as voles and field mice) before making a kill.

The short-eared owl has two distinct calls, name a low “hoo-hoo-hoo” and a sharp, barking “kee-aw”. It will also clap its wings together.

Breeding

Short-eared owls return to their breeding grounds from March to mid-April. Nests are built on the ground, a shallow depression being filled with coarse plant stems lined with finer material and leaves. Breeding behaviour is dependent on food supply during a particular year, such that in an ordinary year the clutch could be as few as four eggs but in a very good year when vole populations “explode” this number could be as high as fourteen, and second broods are often raised in good years.

The eggs are laid at two-day intervals, with the female beginning incubation as soon as the first is laid. This means that the young hatch successively and, given that incubation can take around 25 days, the first eggs can hatch before the last has been laid.

Incubation is done by the female alone, the male short-eared owl standing guard nearby. When the young start to hatch, he brings food for the whole family.

The short-eared owl is among those ground-nesting bird species that have been known to trick would-be predators by feigning injury. By pretending to have a crippled wing, the owl will lead a stoat or fox away in pursuit of what he assumes will be an easy meal, only to see the perfectly healthy bird fly off when he gets close.

The young start leaving the nest at three to four weeks and fledge at five weeks. Outside the breeding season, short-eared owls form communal roosts under cover on the ground.

As well as the diet of rodents mentioned above, short-eared owls will also take small birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles.

The short-eared owl has amber conservation status because of concerns over European populations.

© John Welford