Wild woods long eared owl

 

Long eared owls are nocturnal woodland birds with a distribution throughout Europe, Japan, North America and North Africa. Although not a native of Britain, it has gained a foothold in parts of England and Wales.

Name
Long eared owl (Asio Otus)

Lifestyle
Habitat
They inhabit open woodlands, forest strips along rivers, hedgerows and wooded ravines and gullies. During winter they need dense conifer groves or bushy thickets to roost in. Roosting sites are usually in the heaviest forest cover available. Unlike most other owls they may roost communally during winter (7 to 50 owls) in dense thickets and they range over very large undefended foraging areas. Long eared owls are buoyant fliers appearing to glide noiselessly even when their wings are flapping. They are very manouverable and can fly through very dense brush. They fly moth like often hovering and fluttering while looking for prey.

Breeding
The Long eared owl likes to nest in old nests of other birds or squirrels. The female lays 4-6 white eggs, usually in March or early April and incubates them, unaided, for 27-28 days during which time she is fed by the male.

Diet
Eats mainly voles, maybugs, mice, insects and other beetles caught after dark. In winter it can often be found roaming in troupes looking for rodents.

Threats
The distribution of this owl appears to be decreasing at a rapid pace but the reason for this is as yet unknown.

Identification
This elusive owl is slender in shape with long tufts that are mistakenly taken for ears, which are actually situated at the side of the head. Male and female are almost identical with buff and brown mottled plumage and fiery orange colour eyes although the female tends to be darker than the male. Long eared owls have excellent sight and 3 dimensional hearing. Hunting is done at night over fields and open areas, during the day it goes back to the woodlands to roost, especially in fir trees. During the winter it may be seen sleeping in groups.

How we manage our woods
Our forest management operations are aimed at providing a diversity of plants and structure within the forest which will provide the ideal habitat for the Long eared owl.

Did you know?
When roosting a Long eared owl will stretch its body to make itself look like a tree branch.

Vital Statistics
Length: 35 to 39 cm
Wingspan: 39 cm
Weight: 260-280 g
Age: They can live up to 10 years.
UK numbers: 1-3,000