In this video, we learn about the longeared owl.

You can find more info about LongEared Owl here https://avibirds.com/longearedowla...
QUICK FACTS:

• Lifespan: 4 years (average), 12 years (maximum recorded)
• Length: 14 in (35 cm)
• Wingspan: 2 ft 8 in (94 cm)
• Weight: 11.5 oz (328 g)
• Family: Strigidae

Description: Identifying the longeared owl

The longeared owl is a peculiarlooking bird with long ear tufts for which it is named. It is a slender, mediumsized owl with long wings. The plumage is a mix of brown, grey, and buff with dark streaks. It is paler below than above.

Its large, squarish face is tawnybrown to orange and edged with blackishgrey. It has large yellow or orange eyes and a greyishblack bill. Longeared owls have feathered legs, all the way down to the feet, including the toes.

Fun fact: It is unclear what the functions of the ear tufts are. It is believed to play a role in camouflage, predatory defense, and communication. The shape of the tufts breaks up the silhouette of the owl.

It also makes it appear mammallike and more formidable to predators. Another theory is that they communicate using movements of the tufts to signal danger, aggression, or other warnings.

Vocalizations: call and song

Longeared owls have a wide range of vocalizations. Males produce deep hoots that can be heard from a distance. Females have a weaker, highpitched, nasal call. Longeared owls also have barking alarm calls, guard calls, and like other owls, they also hiss and snap their bills when threatened.

Did you know? Owls have exceptional hearing. Their ears are specially developed to pick up highpitched noises. The longeared owl is no exception and can hear up to ten times better than humans.

Distribution and range

Longeared owls are widespread across Europe, Asia, and North America. Their Eurasian range spans western Europe, the Macronesian Atlantic Islands, Scandinavia, the Middle East, North Africa, and across Asia through Russia to northern China. In North America, they occur extensively in the west from Canada through to Mexico.

Habitat

Longeared owls inhabit open wooded areas. They can be found in woody hedges, pasturelands, open forests, forest clearings, forest edges, marshes, wetlands, bogs, and even drier environments like deserts in some parts. Around suburban areas, they can also be found in parks, cemeteries, and gardens.

Diet and feeding habits

Longeared owls hunt by flying low over the ground, gliding slowly, scanning below using their keen sight and hearing. They have a wide and varied diet comprising mainly of rodents such as voles and other small mammals, as well as birds and a range of invertebrates. They also take reptiles, amphibians, and fish, although to a lesser extent.

Nesting and breeding

Longeared owls are monogamous. Males engage in a territorial display that entails singing, swooping, and wingclapping. Longeared owls often use the discarded stick nests of other birds.
They usually nest in trees, typically coniferous, but in some regions, they have been observed nesting on the ground or in cavities made by other animals. Females lay three to five eggs, but there can be as many as eight. Incubation lasts about a month.

Behavior

Longeared owls are nocturnal and become active at dusk. They are territorial during the breeding season but may nest in close proximity to other pairs, especially when food resources are abundant. During winter, they often roost communally in small to medium flocks. But flocks of up to 150 birds have been recorded. They roost in dense stands, taking advantage of the dark to conceal their presence.

Status and conservation

The longeared owl is a widespread and abundant species with an extensive range. At an estimated two to five million birds, they have one of the largest populations among owl species. Threats to longeared owls include indirect pesticide poisoning and indiscriminate persecution due to myth and folklore – a peril faced by many owl species.

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