Long-eared Owl

Physical Characteristics

Here is the Physical Characteristics entry for the Long-eared Owl, following the format and tone of the AK Physical Characteristics document:

Physical Characteristics

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized, slender owl species known for its prominent ear tufts, striking orange eyes, and well-camouflaged plumage. Found across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, it is a master of stealth and concealment in wooded environments.

Plumage:
Long-eared Owls have mottled brown, buff, gray, and black feathers, with a vertical streaked pattern that provides exceptional camouflage against tree bark and foliage. The underparts are pale with vertical dark streaks, while the back and wings blend into forest surroundings.

Face:
They possess a rounded facial disc that is pale buff to orange with a dark border. Their most distinctive feature is the pair of long, upright ear tufts—which are not ears but feather structures used for visual signaling and camouflage. The bright orange eyes give them a piercing and intense expression.

Body:
The body is slender and elongated, giving the owl a tall, narrow appearance when perched. They often assume a “thin” posture to mimic branches or tree trunks when alarmed or roosting.

Wings and Tail:
They have long, broad wings and a narrow, rounded tail, both adapted for silent flight and maneuverability through dense forests. When in flight, they show pale buff wing patches and a steady, buoyant glide.

Beak and Feet:
The black, curved beak is short and powerful, ideal for tearing prey. Their toes are feathered and equipped with sharp talons for seizing small mammals. The feet are large relative to body size, offering a strong grip.

Size:

• Length: Ranges from 13.5 to 16 inches (34 to 40 centimeters)

• Wingspan: Approximately 35 to 39 inches (90 to 100 centimeters)

• Weight: Typically between 7.8 and 15.3 ounces (220 to 435 grams), with females usually larger than males

The Long-eared Owl’s unique combination of slender build, dramatic ear tufts, and cryptic plumage makes it one of the most visually striking owls. These features, paired with adaptations for stealth and flight, allow it to blend seamlessly into coniferous or mixed woodlands, often going completely unnoticed during the day.

Reproduction

The Long-eared Owl follows a seasonal reproductive cycle that takes advantage of rodent population peaks. It is a cavity-avoiding species that nests in abandoned stick nests rather than excavating its own, and its reproductive success is closely tied to prey abundance.

1. Mating and Courtship:
Long-eared Owls are monogamous during the breeding season, with pairs typically forming between late winter and early spring. Males initiate courtship with a series of deep, rhythmic hoots and aerial displays that include wing-clapping and slow, hovering flights. Courtship feeding, in which the male presents prey to the female, also strengthens the pair bond.

2. Nesting:
Unlike many owls, Long-eared Owls do not build their own nests. Instead, they rely on abandoned stick nests built by corvids (such as crows or magpies), hawks, or squirrels. Nests are usually located in dense coniferous trees, thickets, or woodland edges that offer both cover and proximity to open hunting grounds.

3. Egg Laying and Incubation:
The female lays 3 to 8 white eggs, typically spaced 1–2 days apart. She is solely responsible for incubation, which lasts about 26 to 28 days. During this time, the male provides all food, often caching surplus prey near the nest for later use.

4. Hatching and Nestling Period:
The chicks hatch asynchronously and are altricial, covered in down and initially blind. The female broods the young continuously during their first days, while the male continues to hunt and deliver prey.

5. Development and Fledging:
Chicks begin to clamber around the nest and branches at about 3 weeks, entering a “branching” phase. Full fledging occurs around 4 to 5 weeks of age, though they remain flightless at first. They gradually develop flight ability over the next 1–2 weeks.

6. Post-Fledging Care:
After fledging, juveniles remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks, often staying in family groups into early summer. During this time, they practice hunting and refine their flight skills under adult supervision.

Reproductive Adaptability:
In years of high rodent abundance, Long-eared Owls may initiate breeding early and produce larger clutches. In lean years, clutch sizes are smaller or breeding may be skipped entirely.

The Long-eared Owl’s reliance on abandoned nests, seasonal flexibility, and strong biparental care contribute to its reproductive success. Its preference for dense nesting cover paired with access to prey-rich open habitats underscores the importance of mosaic landscapes for sustaining healthy populations.

Lifespan

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a secretive, medium-sized owl with a widespread range across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Its lifespan is shaped by environmental conditions, prey availability, and its ability to avoid detection by predators and humans.

Lifespan in the Wild:
In the wild, Long-eared Owls typically live around 4 to 10 years, though many juveniles do not survive past their first year due to predation, starvation, or environmental hazards. However, some banded individuals have been recorded living up to 15 years in natural settings.

Lifespan in Captivity:
In captivity, with regular food, veterinary care, and protection from predators, Long-eared Owls can live 15 to 20 years, though they are rarely kept outside of rehabilitation or conservation programs due to their elusive nature.

Threats to the Long-eared Owl:

• Predation: Nestlings and juveniles are vulnerable to predation by raccoons, hawks, and larger owls, especially Great Horned Owls.

• Habitat Loss: Removal of mature trees and dense understory reduces nesting and roosting sites. Agricultural expansion and monoculture forestry also impact hunting areas.

• Vehicle Collisions: As a low-flying nocturnal hunter, this species is prone to collisions with cars and roadside structures.

• Climate and Prey Fluctuations: Severe winters and rodent population crashes can reduce breeding success and survival, especially in northern latitudes.

• Human Disturbance: Roosting owls are sensitive to disturbance and may abandon otherwise suitable habitats if frequently flushed by humans or pets.

Conservation Actions:

• Habitat Management: Preserving a mix of dense woodland for roosting and open fields for hunting supports year-round needs.

• Nest Site Availability: Protecting and maintaining corvid and raptor nests can provide valuable nesting platforms.

• Monitoring and Education: Raising awareness of the species’ cryptic habits and importance in rodent control can foster coexistence.

• Roost Protection: Seasonal closures or signage near known winter roosts can help reduce disturbance in key areas.

Although Long-eared Owls are elusive, they play an important ecological role and can live relatively long lives when protected from early-life threats. Their stealth, site fidelity, and adaptability allow them to quietly persist across varied landscapes—often out of sight, but rarely out of earshot.

Hunting and Eating

The Long-eared Owl is a nocturnal predator with finely tuned hunting abilities, designed for stealth, precision, and efficiency. It relies heavily on auditory cues and prefers open fields or meadows near dense cover, where it roosts by day and hunts by night.

Diet:
Long-eared Owls are specialized small mammal hunters, with a strong preference for:

• Voles, mice, and shrews – which make up the bulk of their diet

• Young rats and small rabbits, especially in more open habitats

• Occasionally small birds, particularly in winter when rodents are scarce

• Rarely large insects or amphibians, more common in southern parts of their range

They may cache uneaten prey at the nest or roost during times of abundance.

Hunting Strategy:
Long-eared Owls are silent, aerial hunters that use a “perch-and-pounce” method or low, buoyant flights over open ground:

• Their exceptional hearing, aided by large facial discs and asymmetrical ear placement, allows them to detect and pinpoint small animals beneath grass or snow.

• They fly just a few feet off the ground, often quartering fields in search of movement or sound.

• Once prey is located, they dive with precision, extending their sharp talons to grasp and subdue it.

Silent Flight and Stealth:
Their feathers are specially adapted with soft fringed edges that reduce sound during flight, making them virtually silent and allowing them to strike prey undetected.

Feeding Behavior:

• Small prey is typically swallowed whole; bones, fur, and feathers are later compacted and regurgitated as pellets, often beneath regular perches or roosts.

• Larger prey may be torn into pieces and shared with a mate or nestlings during the breeding season.

• During incubation and brooding, the male delivers food to the female and young, often stockpiling prey near the nest.

Seasonal Adjustments:
In winter, when prey is harder to find, Long-eared Owls may move to areas with better rodent populations or shift slightly southward. They often form communal winter roosts, a rare behavior among owls, possibly to conserve warmth and share knowledge of food-rich areas.

The Long-eared Owl’s success as a hunter lies in its blend of agility, silence, and auditory precision. By pairing dense forest roosts with open hunting grounds, it strikes a balance between concealment and opportunity—remaining one of the most efficient and ghostly nocturnal predators in the owl world.

Uniqueness

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is one of the most visually striking and behaviorally unusual owls in its range. Known for its tall posture, expressive ear tufts, and communal winter roosts, this owl is a master of both camouflage and cooperation—traits not often seen together in the owl world.

Signature Ear Tufts:
Perhaps its most defining feature, the Long-eared Owl has elongated, vertical ear tufts that give it a “tall-eared” silhouette. These tufts are not used for hearing but serve a visual function—aiding in camouflage by breaking up the owl’s outline and communicating mood or threat displays.

Extreme Camouflage:
With a slim, bark-colored body and streaked plumage, this owl is incredibly difficult to spot when roosting during the day. It often perches upright and motionless, mimicking a branch or tree trunk—especially when threatened.

Communal Roosting:
Unlike most owls, which are fiercely solitary, Long-eared Owls are known to gather in groups of up to 20 or more individuals at shared winter roosts. This behavior is highly unusual and may help with thermoregulation, predator detection, or learning foraging areas.

Flexible Rooster, Secretive Hunter:
These owls often roost in dense conifers or thickets during the day, then emerge at dusk to hunt in open fields, meadows, or marsh edges. This blend of environments makes them stealthy and adaptable, yet rarely seen.

Highly Sensitive to Disturbance:
Long-eared Owls are among the most easily disturbed owl species. If flushed repeatedly, they may abandon roosts or nesting areas, making careful monitoring and observation critical to their conservation.

Unusual Nesting Behavior:
They do not build their own nests, but instead rely on abandoned crow or raptor nests, a strategy that ties their breeding success to the health of other species—adding a layer of indirect ecological interdependence.

Striking Eyes and Expressions:
Their bright orange eyes and slender facial structure give the Long-eared Owl a uniquely alert, intense look, especially when paired with raised ear tufts. This combination contributes to its almost mythical appearance in folklore and photography.

Conclusion:
The Long-eared Owl’s combination of silent grace, group winter behavior, and visual flair sets it apart from nearly all other owl species. It embodies a rare blend of camouflage and sociability, making it both elusive and enigmatic—a quiet inhabitant of twilight fields and shadowed forest edges.