Today we are going to talk about the Short-Eared Owl (Asio Flammeus) These owls are medium sized with a large head, a short neck, and broad wings. Their plumage is typically a mottled tawny and brown. Females are slightly larger than males. They can be mistaken for the Long-Eared Owl. They live in open plains, such as grasslands, meadows, prairies, and tundras. They live all over the World (Except for Antarctica and Australia), and make their nests on the ground. Their nest is a small scrape in the ground lined with grass. It's clutch of eggs is 3-10 big, and the eggs are a creamy white color. They have been known to lure predators away from their nest by pretending they have a crippled wing. They mostly hunt for voles, mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats, moles, roaches, grasshoppers, beetles, katydids and caterpillars. They generally hunt at night, but are known to hunt during the daylight too. Competition for prey in North America can be fierce with the Northern Harrier because they share the same likings for prey. Short-eared owls have a scratchy bark-like call. Raspy waowk, waowk, waowk or toot-toot-toot-toot-toot sounds are common. A loud eeee-yerp is also heard on breeding grounds. However, short-eared owls are silent on the wintering grounds.
Adult Short-Eared Owl
Short-Eared Owl Flying
Young Short-Eared Owl
This blog is GREAT! Although, you need to add some funny stuff. Its all serious. If you ever need to know about owls without anything being funny, look up the OWL POST!
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