Overview

Short-eared Owl: Medium owl, light and dark brown mottled upperparts and dark-streaked, pale buff underparts. Head has large, round, pale buff facial disk with fine, brown tinges, black around eyes, and small ear tufts. Eyes are yellow and bill is black. Flight is erratic with flopping wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Short-eared Owl: Occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica; prefers open spaces such as grasslands, prairies, agricultural fields, salt marshes, estuaries, mountain meadows, and tundra.

Breeding and Nesting

Short-eared Owl: Lays three to eleven white eggs in a ground nest lined with grass and downy feathers; nest is usually built on a slight ridge or mound with enough vegetation for concealment. Female incubates eggs for 25 to 29 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Short-eared Owl: Eats voles, mice, shrews, ground squirrels, pocket gophers, pocket mice, moles, rats, small rabbits, and muskrats; also takes small birds and large insects; forages mostly at night.

Vocalization

Short-eared Owl: Male’s territorial song is a pulsing "voo-hoo-hoo", resembling an old steam engine, given mainly during flight displays; female responds with a barking "kee-ow." When excited near the nest, both sexes squawk, bark, hiss, and squeal.

Similar Species

Short-eared Owl: Long-eared Owl has a smaller "wrist" patch, buff underwings, and a darker belly. Burrowing Owl is much smaller and has a pale bill.