Wildlifeof China
Long-eared Owl
Owls
Photo: (c) Charlotte Kirchner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Asio otus
Basic stats
Diet
Primarily voles, deer mice, and other small mammals; occasionally birds, snakes, and insects
Habitat
Dense woodland, groves, thickets, shelterbelts, and streamside trees beside open hunting areas
Range
Northern Hemisphere from temperate North America through Europe and Asia to Japan, with isolated African populations
Clutch size
2–10 eggs; usually 5–6
Incubation period
25–30 days; usually 26–28
Size
Approximately 27–40 cm
Wingspan
90–100 cm
Weight
Males 220–305 g; females 260–435 g
The long-eared owl ranges through temperate North America, Europe, and northern Asia to Japan, with isolated populations in northern and eastern Africa and on Atlantic islands. It generally roosts or nests in dense trees, shelterbelts, groves, streamside vegetation, or thickets beside open grasslands, marshes, and farmland used for hunting. Adults are slender owls with long rounded wings, close-set ear tufts, orange or yellow eyes, and streaked brown-gray plumage. Their wingspan is 90–100 cm, and females are usually larger than males. (Animal Diversity Web)
Small mammals under 100 g dominate the diet, particularly voles and deer mice, although shrews, pocket gophers, young rabbits, small birds, snakes, and insects may also be taken. Captured prey is killed with a bite to the skull, swallowed whole, or cached near the nest. Pairs are mainly monogamous. They generally reuse stick nests built by other birds, where the female lays two to ten eggs, usually five or six. Incubation lasts 25–30 days, most commonly 26–28 days. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Long-eared Owl eat?
- Primarily voles, deer mice, and other small mammals; occasionally birds, snakes, and insects
- What habitat does the Long-eared Owl live in?
- Dense woodland, groves, thickets, shelterbelts, and streamside trees beside open hunting areas
- Where is the Long-eared Owl found?
- Northern Hemisphere from temperate North America through Europe and Asia to Japan, with isolated African populations
- How many eggs does the Long-eared Owl lay?
- 2–10 eggs; usually 5–6
- How long are the eggs of the Long-eared Owl incubated?
- 25–30 days; usually 26–28
- How big is the Long-eared Owl?
- Approximately 27–40 cm
- What is the wingspan of the Long-eared Owl?
- 90–100 cm
- How much does the Long-eared Owl weigh?
- Males 220–305 g; females 260–435 g