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  • Long-eared owl

Long-eared owl

Long-eared owl
Long-eared owl
Long-eared owl in flight
Long-eared owl in flight
  • Scientific name: Asio otus
  • Bird family: Owls
  • UK conservation status: Green
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Long-eared owl call audio

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Ante Strand, Xeno-canto

Key information

The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl, smaller in size than a woodpigeon. It often looks long and thin, with head feathers (known as ear tufts, even though they are not ears) which it raises when alarmed. It is buff-brown with darker brown streaks and deep orange eyes.

It breeds thinly across the UK with fewer birds in the south-west and Wales. Northern birds migrate southwards, including birds from Europe coming to spend the winter in the UK, while southern birds are residents and only move short distances to find food.

What they eat:

Small rodents, and small birds in winter.

Measurements:

Length:
35-37 cm
Wingspan:
84-95 cm
Weight:
210-370 g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
1,800-6,000 pairs

Identifying features:

Long-eared owl

Long eared owl
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey Orange
Leg colour: Brown
Beak: Black Short Hooked Chunky
Natural habitats: Woodland Farmland Wetland

Similar birds:

Short eared owl
Short-eared owl
Adult tawny owl
Tawny owl

Where and when to see them

Long-eared owls are nocturnal and secretive, so unlikely to be seen other than on migration (when birds may turn up on coasts at any time of day) or when leaving or returning to a communal roost site in winter.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Long-eared owl distribution map

You can spot the long-eared owl all year round.

  • jan
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Wren standing up proudly on the end of a wooden log, surrounded by the purple-blue colour of bluebells in the foreground and blurred background

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