# Short-eared Owl (*Asio flammeus*) The Short-eared Owl is a small, round owl that loves to hunt in open fields at dusk and dawn! It has beautiful golden-brown feathers that help it blend in. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands and marshes - **Also known as:** Grass Owl, Marsh Owl ![Short-eared Owl](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426503/objects/4607.jpg) ## Appearance The Short-eared Owl has streaky brown and buff plumage with a pale underside, bright yellow eyes, and subtle, tiny ear tufts. Its long, slender wings and buoyant flight make it look distinct from other owls when hunting low over open fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Asio ## Interesting facts - Short-eared Owls make their nests right on the ground, hidden in thick grass! - Sometimes, many owls gather in large groups, called 'parliaments,' especially in winter! - Their actual ears are hidden, and the 'short ears' are just tiny feather tufts! - These owls often hunt during the daytime, unlike many other owl species! ## Special abilities - **Silent Hunter Wings:** Short-eared Owls have specialized fringed feathers that help them fly almost silently, allowing them to surprise prey. - **Super Hearing Ears:** They possess asymmetrical ear openings, helping them pinpoint the exact location of prey even under dense cover. - **Low-Light Vision:** Their large, forward-facing yellow eyes are packed with rod cells, giving them incredible vision for hunting at dawn and dusk. - **Head Swivel:** Short-eared Owls can rotate their heads up to 270 degrees, giving them a wide field of view without moving. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 34-43 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-110 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-7 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 24-29 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding They are fierce hunters that mainly eat small rodents, helping to control their populations. - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Mice, Shrews, Small Birds, Large Insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — primary prey species - **Hunts:** Masked Shrew (*Sorex cinereus*) — eats small mammals - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — preys on nests and young - **Shelter:** [Saltmarsh Cordgrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saltmarsh-cordgrass) (*Spartina patens*) — nests hidden in marsh grass ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Short-eared Owl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Short-eared Owl? 34-43 cm ### What is Short-eared Owl's wingspan? 90-110 cm ### How much does Short-eared Owl weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Short-eared Owl live? 4-7 years ### How fast can Short-eared Owl move? 60 km/h ### What does Short-eared Owl eat? They are fierce hunters that mainly eat small rodents, helping to control their populations. ### Where is Short-eared Owl usually found? Grasslands and marshes ## Where to spot - [P Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/p-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Lorraine Dixon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lorraine-dixon-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Screech Owl Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/screech-owl-sanctuary) — England, GB · Zoo [View all places to see Short-eared Owl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/short-eared-owl) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Short-eared Owl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/short-eared-owl)