| The Long-eared Owl is about crow size, the middle-sized representative of the three types of eared owls. This owl has chestnut-brown eye disks and the "ears" are set closer together than most owls . The brown heavily mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage as the owl perches next to tree trunk. Elongating itself by compressing its feathers and holding its ears straight up the owl resembles a broken branch.
It is basically a northern species during the mating season, breeding throughout most of southern Canada and the northern two thirds of the United States. During the breeding season, they are more abundant in the northern part of there range although I have seen them nesting in Winton Woods and Miami Whitewater Forest around Cincinnati, Ohio. As it is a migratory bird, the Long-eared Owl retreats from almost all of Canada and we encounter the owl in southern Ohio most often during winter. The winter range extends across the entire width and breadth of the United States into central Mexico. The owl can also found in Eurasia.
Long-ears are somewhat specialized in their eating habits. They are strictly nocturnal, venturing out at night in search of the meadow vole. They often travel great distances to find the voles, covering both grasslands and fields. More than 300,000 pellets - regurgitated fur and bones of prey - have been studied making the feeding habits of the Long-eared Owl the best understood part of its ecology and amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects are rarely consumed. Like other nocturnal owls the long eared owl is exceptionally sensitive to the high frequency squeaking of a mouse. The eye disks funnel sound to the owls ears which are asymmetrical in shape, size, or, position. The minute differences in the time it takes for sound to travel to each ear are enough to allow the owl to pinpoint its prey. And although their eyesight is excellent it has been proven that owls can catch their prey in total darkness by sound alone.
The Long-eared Owl's nests tend to be found in secluded areas, often in dense evergreen thickets bordered by fields. The nests can best be found by searching the ground for the pellets ejected near the nest. They roost in the day in what appears to be a communal setting. Over the years, due to the loss of habitat the Long-eared Owl has become a rare find in our area.
During courtship the male flies zig-zagging in front of the female occasionally gliding and clapping its wings together beneath its body. This is followed by courtship feeding and long-term bonds are formed especially in areas where the owls are year round residents. The female will select the nesting which is usually an abandoned crow's nest or less frequently the nests of squirrels, magpies, ravens, herons, or hawks. A clutch consists of 4 to 5 white eggs which are incubated by the female for 26 to 28 days while the male brings food. The young leave the nest 23 to 35 days although the parents will continue to feed the young for up to 2 months. If the nest is threatened they will perform a distraction display. If nesting in a colony the display may be performed by several birds.
Length 12 to 15 inches
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