Page 244 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

OWLS
Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Species Asio otus
Long-eared Owl

long ear tufts,
raised
pale patch on
outer wings dark surround to bright
orange-red eye ear tufts, folded
back

mottled
upperwings
dark wrist
patch
grey tips

IN FLIGHT
large, handsome bird,
Athe Long-eared Owl
can be found in winter closely
streaked
in communal roosts of a underside
handful to twenty or more
birds.These are often found
in tall pines, but also resort to
dense thickets of willow and FLIGHT: looks like Short-eared Owl but less often
hawthorn, where they can be seen by day; slightly shorter-winged, less buoyant.
extremely hard to see; they are WINTER ROOST
sometimes given away by splashes A typical winter roost is in a
of droppings and regurgitated pellets thorn or willow thicket, or a pine
on the ground. Unless disturbed, they rarely move tree, where several owls may be
before it is almost dark: only occasionally may one be close together.
found hunting in better light, inviting confusion with
the Short-eared Owl.
VOICE Song deep, moaning, short hoot, oo oo oo or uh
uh; juvenile begs for food with high, sharp,“squeaky-
hinge” eee-ip.
NESTING Old nest of crow, squirrel drey, or under
thick growth of bracken or brambles; 3–5 eggs;
1 brood; March–June.
FEEDING Hunts from perch or in flight, catching
small rodents and roosting birds. OCCURRENCE
Widespread except in Iceland
SIMILAR SPECIES and N Scandinavia; summer only
in NE Europe. Mostly breeds in
EAGLE OWL coniferous woodland and shelter
yellow see p.240 black eye
eye belts near moors, heaths, and
marshes; roosts in thickets, old,
much larger rounder and tall hedgerows, belts of willows
darker near marshes, and similar low,
thick cover near open ground.
white SHORT-EARED OWL
trailing very similar in flight; TAWNY OWL Seen in the UK
edge see p.243 see p.239 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 35–37cm (14–14 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 84–95cm (33–37in) Weight 210–330g (7–12oz)
Social Roosts in small flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure
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