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  Profile

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  In flight

Owls

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

• rare
• 55 km/h
• Least Concern

Roosts in dense conifers by day, slim and upright with absurd ear tufts. Hunts open country in total silence.

Population

~2.2–3.7 million mature individuals globally (decreasing trend)

Habitat

Dense woodland edges and conifer/thicket stands adjacent to open grassland or fields used for hunting

Fun fact

Despite its name, the Long-eared Owl's prominent "ear" tufts are just feathers used for camouflage and display — its actual ear openings are large asymmetric slits (the right ear sits about 13% larger and lower than the left) hidden beneath the facial disc, giving it hearing about ten times more sensitive than a human's at high/medium pitches and letting it pinpoint voles in total darkness.

Range

Widely distributed across Eurasia, the Middle East, northern Africa, and North America (British Columbia/Canada south through much of the continental US, locally into Mexico); northern populations migratory

Diet

Small mammals, especially voles and mice, occasionally other rodents, small birds, and insects

Size

0.35 m

Wingspan

0.94 m

Lifespan

27.8 years