(ID expanded. Subspecies. References updated. Video link amended) |
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| − | [[Image:Long-eared_Owl.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Etow|Etow}} <br /> | + | [[Image:Long-eared_Owl.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Etow|Etow}} <br />North-central [[Ohio]], [[USA]] <br />North American subspecies ''wilsonianus'']] |
'''Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl''' | '''Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl''' | ||
;[[:Category:Asio|Asio]] otus | ;[[:Category:Asio|Asio]] otus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | Male 35–38 cm (13¾-15 in), female 37–40 cm (14½-15¾ in); a medium sized owl | |
| + | *Orange face | ||
| + | *Two long 'ears' | ||
| + | *Grey and rufous-buff overall plumage | ||
When seen close to it can look surprisingly cat-like. | When seen close to it can look surprisingly cat-like. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image:Leo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|lior+kislev|lior kislev}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Leo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|lior+kislev|lior kislev}}<br />Samak wadi, Golan, [[Israel]]]] |
Occurs across [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]], widespread and fairly common over much of the [[Western Palearctic]]. | Occurs across [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]], widespread and fairly common over much of the [[Western Palearctic]]. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 20: | ||
'''Vagrants''' recorded on [[Svalbard]], [[Bear Island]], [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroes]] to the north, and to the south in [[Kuwait]] and [[Iraq]]. | '''Vagrants''' recorded on [[Svalbard]], [[Bear Island]], [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroes]] to the north, and to the south in [[Kuwait]] and [[Iraq]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | There are four recognised subspecies. | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | There are four recognised subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| + | *''A. o. tuftsi'': | ||
| + | :*Western [[Canada]] to north-western Baja, southern [[Texas]] and northern [[Mexico]] (Nuevo León) | ||
| + | *''A. o. wilsonianus'': | ||
| + | :*South-central and south-eastern Canada to south-central [[US]] | ||
| + | *''A. o. otus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Europe]], [[Asia]] and North [[Africa]] | ||
| + | *''A. o. canariensis'': | ||
| + | :*[[Canary Islands]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest. | Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 37: | ||
Nocturnal and crepuscular. | Nocturnal and crepuscular. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | Diet is mainly voles and small rodents. | + | Diet is mainly voles and small rodents. They are also known to eat small birds. |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
It nests in old nest of other birds. | It nests in old nest of other birds. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 44: | ||
''[[Media:Asio otus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Asio otus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015) | ||
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | #Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | ||
#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2994740 Birdforum thread] discussing id of young just out of the nest | #[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2994740 Birdforum thread] discussing id of young just out of the nest | ||
| − | + | {{ref}} | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Asio+otus}} | {{GSearch|Asio+otus}} | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| − | {{Video| | + | {{Video|Long_eared_Owl}} |
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Asio]][[Category:Videos]][[Category:Bird Songs]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Asio]][[Category:Videos]][[Category:Bird Songs]] | ||
Revision as of 21:22, 16 October 2015
Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl
- Asio otus
Identification
Male 35–38 cm (13¾-15 in), female 37–40 cm (14½-15¾ in); a medium sized owl
- Orange face
- Two long 'ears'
- Grey and rufous-buff overall plumage
When seen close to it can look surprisingly cat-like.
Distribution
Occurs across Europe, Asia and North America, widespread and fairly common over much of the Western Palearctic.
Breeds in Britain and Ireland, and from Iberia east to the Urals and Caspian, north to central Norway coast and head of the Gulf of Bothnia. Found south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern Spain to Greece and breeds on Balearics and at a few scattered sites in Turkey. Also breeds in the Azores and Canary Islands and rarely in North-West Africa. First breeding record for Egypt in 1987 and may breed at scattered sites in the Middle East.
Northern birds are mainly migratory, leaving breeding areas in October-November to winter in western and southern Europe, and returning in March-May, those further south are resident with some dispersal of young birds.
Vagrants recorded on Svalbard, Bear Island, Iceland and the Faroes to the north, and to the south in Kuwait and Iraq.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are four recognised subspecies[1]:
- A. o. tuftsi:
- A. o. wilsonianus:
- South-central and south-eastern Canada to south-central US
- A. o. otus:
- A. o. canariensis:
Habitat
Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest.
Behaviour
Migrates in winter (example: to United Kingdom from Scandinavia). Sometimes forms large, communal roosts during daytime in autumn and winter
Nocturnal and crepuscular.
Diet
Diet is mainly voles and small rodents. They are also known to eat small birds.
Breeding
It nests in old nest of other birds.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Asio otus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015)
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Birdforum thread discussing id of young just out of the nest
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Long-eared Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Long-eared_Owl
External Links
