Asio otus
Long-eared Owls will either inflate or compress their bodies in response to certain situations. To scare an intruder, the owl expands its air sacs, puffs its feathers and spreads its wings to double its size in a threat display. When hiding from an intruder or predator, it compresses itself into a long, thin, vertical form. By slimming down, the owl is trying to blend into the stumps and branches where it frequently roosts. This nocturnal predator hunts in open areas, but it returns to dense, wooded environments to roost out the day. Despite the common use of 'eared' in many owl names, the tufts on top of these birds' heads are made only of feathers. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: long ear tufts are relatively close together; slim body; vertical belly markings; light brown facial disk; mottled brown plumage; yellow eyes; white around the bill. Size: L 13-16 in. (33-41 cm); W 36-47 in. (91-119 cm). Range: locally uncommon year-round resident throughout the Rockies; rare winter resident in the Canadian Rockies. Habitat: dense, mixed forests and tall shrublands, usually next to open spaces, such as grasslands and meadows, in the foothills. Nesting: often in abandoned crow, magpie or hawk nests; occasionally in natural tree cavities; female incubates 4-5 eggs for up to 25-30 days. Feeding: nocturnal; flies low, pouncing on prey from the air; eats mainly voles and mice, occasionally shrews, pocket-gophers and small rabbits, and also small birds and amphibians. Voice: breeding call is a low, soft quoo-quoo; alarm call is weck-weck-weck. Similar Species: Western Screech-Owl: ear tufts are farther apart; body is less compressed. Great Horned Owl: much larger; ear tufts are farther apart; body is less compressed. |
