Long-eared Owls are just one of about 250 species of owls living in the world. They reside on every continent except Antarctica. Nineteen of these live in the United States. If you would like a quick look at which owls live in the US, including a few brief facts follow this link to Owls of the United States: A List of all Species https://abcbirds.org/blog20/owl-species-united-states/
Long-eared Owl’s Appearance
Long-eared Owls are medium-sized slender owls with long dark ear tufts, and a yellow or orangish facial disk. The ear tufts are not ears at all. These are simply feathers, called plumicorns. These can be erected straight up like a cat, or lain flat down on their heads. Scientists believe this is a way for them to communicate with other birds, such as their mates. Plumicorns may also help the bird’s camouflage by helping them blend into their habitat better.
You will see photos of Long-eared Owls with orange or yellow eyes. Generally Eurasian Long-eared have orangish eyes, while American Long-eared have yellow eyes. Both have vertical white lines between the eyes. Despite the different eye colors, both are classified as Asio otus.
Habitat and Communal Roosts
Long-eared Owl’s prefer woodlands with dense vegetation for nesting and roosting. However they prefer open country or shrub lands for hunting. These are nocturnal owls, therefore preferring to spend their day in the forest, while hunting at night in nearby open areas.
Unlike most owls Long-eared are quite social and will often live in communal roosts, especially during the winter. Typically the size of these groups are 2 to 20 owls. However, at times this may include up to 100 birds. Short-eared Owls are another owl that will practice communal roosting in the winter and will occasionally spend time within Long-eared Owl’s groups.
Even during their breeding season Long-eared Owls will sometimes live in loose colonies, with pairs nesting within 50 feet of each other.
These communal groups are often located within thick cover, causing them to be difficult to discover. Scientists think this sociability may help to deter predators.
Long-eared Owl Defense
One of the best defense behaviors owls use is their camouflage. If unseen, they will be hidden away from danger. Long-eared Owls will erect their ear tufts and compress their feathers tightly against their body, therefore giving them a skinny appearance. Coupled with this they will freeze, thus resembling a broken tree limb.
The color and pattern of its plumage further helps to camouflage Long-eared Owls, causing them to blend in with the bark of trees as they sit still and quietly among the branches.
Look at the photo below. Can you find two owls? Hint look for the eyes. One owl is standing tall in the center of the photo, while the other is to the right side of center, leaning against and lower than the more obvious owl.
At times when in danger, especially if near their nest with chicks to protect, a parent may act as if it is injured. It might flop around on the ground as though a wing injury prevents it from flying. Hopefully this will trick the predator into perceiving the parent as easy prey. The Long-eared can then lead the predator away from the nest. This behavior occurs in some ground-nesting birds such as Short-eared Owls and Killdeer, along with a number of shorebirds.
When eggs or young are present in a nest, adults may circle the nest while snapping their bills at approaching predators. They will also dive-bomb the predator along with making alarm calls.
Diet and Hunting Behavior
The Peregrine Fund reports that one study shows over 95% of a Long-eared Owl’s diet is composed of rodents such as such as mice, voles, kangaroo rats, shrews, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, and young rats, Along with this they will occasionally dine on other small animals such as young rabbits, birds, and reptiles. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reports that an individual adult requires approximately 1 to 3 small mammals per day.
As nocturnal hunters Long-eared Owls are capable of catching mice in complete darkness. They typically hunt by flying back and fourth low over the ground. Generally they will fly less than a meter above the vegetation, all the while listening and watching for prey. When prey is discovered, they drop to the ground, grasp the prey with its sharp talons, while killing it with a bite to the back of the skull.
Hearing is enhanced by asymmetrical ears and a facial disc. The asymmetric location allows sound to hit one ear slightly sooner than the other. As a result, this enables owls to better pinpoint the location of prey.
The facial disk is made up of feathers that help direct sound into the bird’s ears. Owls can raise these facial disk feathers to better hear the movement of prey within the grass or beneath snow. Think of it like putting your hands behind your ears to hear better. If you have never done this, give it a try.
Along with the back and fourth hunting method they will also hover over potential prey, or if it is windy, perch while watching and listening for prey below them.
However, there are exceptions to this hunting at night “rule.” During breeding season, they have a need to capture more prey, and therefore at times they may have to hunt during the day in order to supply enough food for their growing family.
Long-eared Owl’s Nesting Behavior
For the most part, owls do not construct nests. Nevertheless you will see some types of owls raising young in stick nests. Although they do not build nests, they will take over nests built by other birds. Typically this is what Long-eared Owls prefer to do if a suitable nest can be found. These may be nests made by magpies, hawks, crows, ravens, ospreys, or even bald eagles. However, the nest they seem to prefer are the nests of red-tailed hawks.
On the other hand, if a suitable nest is not available they will nest in holes or crevices located in trees or cliffs.
A courting Long-eared male wishing to impress a female will execute aerial zigzagging displays over a desirable nesting habitat. This includes both wing flaps and glides along with wing-claps. The male will also make a series of complex calls. After his display the male picks a perching spot from which he can be seen swaying back and forth, while gently flapping his wings.
The Long-eared female chooses the nesting site. According to Cornell Labs, All About Birds, once a Long-eared Owl moves into a nest, she will usually lay 2-10 eggs. The female will incubate the eggs for 25 – 30 days. The male will take on the duty of hunter and food delivery.
Long-eared Owls tend to be monogamous for at least one season. Researchers, however, are unsure if Long-eared Owls bond for life or choose a new mate each year.
Are Long-eared Owls Hooters?
Long-eared Owls are not often heard as they tend to be quiet except during breeding season. During this time they are hooters, though they also make a number of other calls. Generally you will hear soft low hoots, along with shrieks, whistles, whines, cat-like meows, and barking calls.
At times the male and female may vocalize in a duet, with the female’s call more like a lamb than a hoot. When near their nest, one may also hear bill snaps, and an eerie squeal.
Listen to some of the sounds you may hear a Long-eared make:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_1f9JZ8ok
Do Long-eared Owls Migrate?
Although many Long-eared Owls do not migrate, others may migrate long distances. Studies show that birds banded in the northern US and southern Canada have been found in Mexico. Being a very nocturnal species, those that migrate do so only at night.
Typically people who study Long-eared Owls believe they do not migrate in our area or Wyoming.
Lastly, If You Love Owls, Check Here
During the course of working at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Draper Museum Raptor Experience, (https://centerofthewest.org/raptor-experience) I often observe that people are especially fascinated by owls.
There are 12 owl species that live in Wyoming. To find out what they are, check the web link below. You will find all 12 with a range map, a small amount of information, and a short sound video for each.
https://birdwatchinghq.com/owls-in-wyoming/
Don’t despair if you are not a Wyoming resident. Follow this link and scroll through their choices to find out if there is a similar page for your state. https://birdwatchinghq.com/?s=owls+in+the+USA
Photos:
Opening photo of a Long-eared Owl perched within a tree, by
Charlie Marshall, Attribution 2.0 Generic License, https://flickr.com/photos/100915417@N07/
Long-eared Owl perched on a glove, by JuliaC2006,
Attribution 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliac2006/
Long-eared Owl with plumicorns laid back by Jason Shallcross, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonshallcross/
Owl looking through leaves by Donald Davesne, Attribution 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/198981757@N08/
Long-eared Owl looking long by Tyler Ingram, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tyleringram/
Two very well camouflaged long-eared owls side by side in a tree,
Tony’s Takes, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonystakes/
Hunting Long-eared Owl with prey
By Aaron Maizlish, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License, https://www.flickr.com/photos/amaizlish/
Long-eared in flight during the day by Jason Shallcross, Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License which allows me to edit with my changes indicated-I cropped and sharpened the photo. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonshallcross/
Young long-eared owl in nest by Sergey Yeliseev, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic, https://www.flickr.com/photos/yeliseev/
Eye and feathers around beak, by Lozwilkes, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/lozwilkes/
Long eared Owl in snowy pine tree, by Anders Peltomaa, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/landp/
