Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl
Asio otus

Habitat:	Open areas for hunting, wooded areas for roosting.

Range:	In North America from Canada to Northern Mexico (not found in the southeast). Also occurs in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Voice:	Soft low "hooos", also makes barking and whining noises similar to a puppy.

Identification:	Length: 13 - 16 inches Wingspan: 36 - 42 inches Weight: 8 - 10 ounces A medium sized owl with yellow eyes surrounded by a rusty facial disk and long ear tufts. Upper parts are mottled black, brown, and white while the underparts are mottled buffy-white with brown streaking.

Diet:		Eats mostly small mammals but also catches birds.

Nest:	Begins nesting in March or April by taking over an old stick nest from other birds such as crows or hawks. The female lays 3 - 8 eggs and she alone incubates them for 26 - 28 days. The young leave the nest after three weeks but stay close to the nest since they can't fly for another 2 weeks. They become independent after 8 weeks.

Comments:	The Long-eared Owl is a difficult bird to find. During the day its coloring lets it blend in with the bark of tree where it will flatten itself up against the trunk. It often roosts in thick pine trees. During the winter, many Long-eared owls will roost together. One of the best ways to find a roost is to look for pellets on the ground.