Long-eared Owl , Asio otus

Long-eared Owls are nimble flyers, with hearing so acute they can snatch prey in complete darkness. In spring and summer, listen for their low, breathy hoots and strange barking calls in the night.The long-eared owl has mottled orange-brown feathers, distinct white eyebrows and striking orange eyes. It has large head feathers or ‘ear tufts’ which become raised when the owl is alarmed; normally the tufts are flattened. It is medium in size, with a wingspan of 95cm. It looks deceptively long and thin when in flight, but is actually no bigger than a wood pigeon.

Interestingly, Long-eared Owls don’t actually have long ears. The tufts perched atop their heads are not ears at all; instead, they are small groups of specialized, long feathers that stand up when the owl is alarmed and in need of camouflage. By resembling sticks, these feather tufts enable them to blend into trees and dense foliage when feeling threatened. Tiny muscles control the rise and relaxation of these tufts.

These nocturnal hunters roost in dense foliage, where their camouflage makes them hard to find, and forage over grasslands for small mammals.

Long-eared owls live in mixed and coniferous woodland, preferring the cover of dense, shrubby thickets, hedgerows and conifer trees. They are found across the UK, although there are fewer birds in Wales and the South West.The species appears to be more abundant in Ireland than it is within Britain, perhaps because of reduced competition from the Tawny Owl,

Long-eared Owls are secretive, nocturnal, and superbly camouflaged. One good way to find them is to listen at night in spring and summer for their long, low hoots. During winter these owls often roost in large numbers, and this can make them easier to find. Methodically search pine stands or shelterbelts near grassland or pasture for roosting owls, often close to the tree trunk among dense branches. Also look along the ground for pellets (gray, roughly oval cylinders of regurgitated fur, feathers, and bone).

The long-eared owl enjoys a diet made up of small mammals, particularly voles and mice. During the winter when food is scarce, it has been known to eat small birds. When hunting, it sweeps through open country, flying to and fro in a zig-zag pattern while scanning the ground for food. Once its prey has been spotted, the owl swoops down and bites the back of the prey’s head, immobilising it instantly. Long-eared Owls swallow their prey whole and then regurgitate the indigestible parts in pellets, usually one per day. If you find these pellets they’re fascinating to pick through, full of tiny animal bones and fur.

The hoot of the male Long-eared Owl can sometimes be heard up to 1 kilometer (0.7 mi) away.

The long-eared owl is extremely elusive during the breeding season, which takes place from February onwards. It will nest in conifer trees, often rearing its young in the disused nests of other birds. It is also known to use tree hollows and artificial nesting baskets. It lays a clutch of three to five eggs, and after around 25–30 days the chicks will hatch. The chicks are then ready to fledge 30 days after hatching, although they will still need to be fed by their parents for up to two months.

The long-eared owl is believed to be abundant in the UK , they are on the Green List of Birds of Conservation Concern It has been suggested that long-eared owls are declining in some areas due to habitat loss and an increase in competition with the tawny owl. The most recent population estimates suggest a UK breeding population numbering between 1,100 and 3,600 pairs, with perhaps a similar number of birds in Ireland where due to the absence of the tawny there is less competition. As with most wildlife here in the U.K. the Long-eared Owl is fully protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

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