DSC0014 Short Eared Owl..
Short Eared Owl - Asios Flammeus
Size: Length 33-43cm. Wings length 281-335mm. Tail length 130-157mm. Weight 206475g. Females are larger and heavier than Males.
Generally nocturnal, but often become active 30-60 minutes before sunset; some owls may be active during the day (to a much lesser extent) during the breeding season. Seasonal changes in activity a response to variations in vole population size and day length. Flies with deep, slow, moth-like rowing wingbeats, and glides on stretched wings over open landscapes. Outside breeding season, they may gather in communal roosts. A largely nomadic vole-specialist.
Short-eared Owls inhabit wide open spaces such as grasslands, prairie, agricultural fields, salt marshes, estuaries, mountain meadows, and alpine and Arctic tundra. Breeding habitat must have sufficient ground cover to conceal nests and nearby sources of small mammals for food. Communal roosts occur in old growth fields, along thick hedgerows, in overgrown rubble in abandoned fields, or in clumps of dense conifers. These Owls tend to roost in trees only when snow covers the ground. During migration, Short-eared Owls will move through high mountain passes, flying at great heights.
Distribution: Short-eared Owls occur widely in the Old World, in Iceland, the Hawaiian Islands and North and South America. Northern populations are migratory and nomadic. Movements of up to 2,000 km have been documented.
Population:
UK breeding:
620-2,180 pairs
DSC0014 Short Eared Owl..
Short Eared Owl - Asios Flammeus
Size: Length 33-43cm. Wings length 281-335mm. Tail length 130-157mm. Weight 206475g. Females are larger and heavier than Males.
Generally nocturnal, but often become active 30-60 minutes before sunset; some owls may be active during the day (to a much lesser extent) during the breeding season. Seasonal changes in activity a response to variations in vole population size and day length. Flies with deep, slow, moth-like rowing wingbeats, and glides on stretched wings over open landscapes. Outside breeding season, they may gather in communal roosts. A largely nomadic vole-specialist.
Short-eared Owls inhabit wide open spaces such as grasslands, prairie, agricultural fields, salt marshes, estuaries, mountain meadows, and alpine and Arctic tundra. Breeding habitat must have sufficient ground cover to conceal nests and nearby sources of small mammals for food. Communal roosts occur in old growth fields, along thick hedgerows, in overgrown rubble in abandoned fields, or in clumps of dense conifers. These Owls tend to roost in trees only when snow covers the ground. During migration, Short-eared Owls will move through high mountain passes, flying at great heights.
Distribution: Short-eared Owls occur widely in the Old World, in Iceland, the Hawaiian Islands and North and South America. Northern populations are migratory and nomadic. Movements of up to 2,000 km have been documented.
Population:
UK breeding:
620-2,180 pairs