Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

This nocturnal hunter's distinctive ear tufts and piercing orange eyes make it a striking sight in forests worldwide.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Long-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl with distinctive, elongated ear tufts that give it its name. These tufts are visible when alarmed but usually flattened and cannot be seen in flight.

Its plumage is a mottled mix of brown and buff, with darker streaks on the breast and belly, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark.

Both sexes have large orange eyes set in a buff facial disc. Females are generally darker and larger than males. Their plumage is more colourful, with more marked contrast between the streaky shades of darker brown and richer buff-orange.

Juveniles resemble adults but have a paler, less defined facial disc and shorter ear tufts and their bodies are mottled with grey and buff rather than the browner tones seen in adult birds.

Size

Length

35cm to 40cm

Wingspan

90cm to 100cm

Weight

220g to 435g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Long-eared Owl can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Long-eared Owl can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Long-eared Owl is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Long-eared Owls inhabit a wide range across North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer dense woodlands or coniferous forests adjacent to open areas for hunting. In the breeding season, they favour edge habitats between forests and grasslands or agricultural fields.

In North America, they are found across much of the United States and southern Canada. In Europe, they are widespread, including in the UK, where they are both resident and winter visitors.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,750 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Long-eared Owl. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons