Long-eared Owls
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The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. Breeding season is from February to July. This bird is partially migratory, moving south in winter from the northern parts of its range. Its habitat is forest close to open country. Asio otus is more elusive than other owls in this family.
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae.
The Long-eared Owl is a medium sized owl, 31-37 cm in length with an 86-98 cm wingspan. The Long-eared Owl carries its blackish tufts, which are positioned in the center of the head, in an erect posture. The females are larger in size and darker in coloration than the males. The Long-eared Owl’s brownish feathers are vertically streaked. Tarsus and toes are entirely feathered. Eye disks are also characteristic in this species. However, eye disks of A. otus are darker in color or rusty-orange. This nocturnal species is perhaps most easily seen perched in a tree in its daytime roost.
It nests in trees, often conifers, using the old stick nests of other birds such as crows, ravens and magpies (Family Corvidae) and various hawks. The average clutch size is 4-6 eggs, and incubation time averages from 25-30 days. It will readily use artificial nesting baskets. It roosts and nests in temperate forests. An unusual characteristic of this species is its communal nesting in thickets during the winter months.
Asio otus is nocturnal, and it hunts over open country by night. It is very long winged, like the similar Short-eared Owl, and glides slowly on stiff wings when hunting. Its food is mainly rodents, small mammals, and birds.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
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