Long-Eared Owl Article Asio otus

Appearance: Tufts appear on the middle of the head above the eyes. Long-eared owl's eyes are yellow, their beak's are black, and their throat's are dark-coloured. Their facial disk is circular and a rusty/brown colour; colour intensity varies. Their chest and belly are mixed with horizontal and vertical markings. Ventrally, mottled brown. Dorsally, the back is mottled with mixtures of brown. Size: They are 13 to 16 inches (33 to 40.5 centimetres) high. Weight: From 8 to 10 ounces (2.3 to 2.8 hectograms). Similar species: The great horned owl is much larger, tufts set wider on the head, and their throat is white. Habitat: Long-eared owls are most often seen in hedgerows, woody draws and juniper thickets, although they do not occur within the forest edge. They are predominantly open-country hunters, however, they are seldom seen because of their nocturnal habits. Voice: A soft, "Hoo, hoo, hoo...," varying in number and given at two to three second intervals. Nesting: They begin nesting in March or April and nest in a stick nest built by other raptors, magpies, crows or ravens. Clutch size: Three to six. Incubation: About 26 days. Young fledge at 30 to 40 days. Migration: In northern latitudes, although some owls may stay throughout the winter. Food: Depends heavily on small rodents. Scientific Classification: The Long-eared Owl is classified as: Asio otus.

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