28-3-2021 SOLLANA, VALENCA - SHORT EARED OWL (Asio flammeus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/20315-Asio-flammeus

 

18-12-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - SHORT EARED OWL (Asio flammeus)

The Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, is a medium-sized owl notable for its mottled tawny to brown plumage, barred tail and wings, and a striking facial appearance accentuated by yellow-orange eyes encircled by black, giving the impression of a mask. This species exhibits a floppy flight pattern due to irregular wingbeats, often described as moth or bat-like.

When observing the Short-eared Owl, look for its large eyes, big head, short neck, and broad wings. The bill is short, strong, hooked, and black. Females are slightly larger than males, and the species can be identified in flight by its broad white band along the rear edge of the wing and pale primary-patches. The upper breast is streaked significantly, and the bird's very short ear tufts are usually not visible unless in a defensive pose.

This owl favors open country and grasslands, often roosting under short, shady trees in grassland or desert habitats.

The Short-eared Owl has a vast range, found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. It breeds in regions including North America, Europe, North Africa, and northern Asia, and is partially migratory, moving southward in winter from the northern parts of its range.

The Short-eared Owl is known to be diurnal and crepuscular, as well as nocturnal, with hunting often occurring just feet above the ground. It is monogamous and nests on the ground, with the male performing a conspicuous courtship display in flight. The species is known to lure predators away from its nest with a feigned injury display.

The calls of the Short-eared Owl include a scratchy bark-like sound, raspy waowk, or a series of toot-toot-toot notes. On breeding grounds, a loud eeee-yerp can be heard, but the species is generally silent on wintering grounds.

Breeding season peaks in April, with nests concealed by low vegetation. Clutch size varies, with up to a dozen eggs laid in years of abundant prey. Incubation is primarily by the female, lasting 21–37 days, and offspring fledge at just over four weeks.

The Short-eared Owl can be confused with the Long-eared Owl, but differences include ear-tuft visibility, iris color (yellow in Short-eared, orange in Long-eared), and patterns around the eyes. The Short-eared Owl is generally paler and has different wing markings and tail bands.

The diet mainly consists of rodents, particularly voles, but also includes other small mammals and occasionally birds and insects. The Short-eared Owl hunts by flying low over open fields before swooping down on prey.

The IUCN lists the Short-eared Owl as a species of least concern, with an estimated global population of 1,200,000 to 2,100,000. However, it is noted to be declining in the southern portion of its United States range and is listed as endangered in New Mexico.

29-11-2019 SUECA, VALENCIA - SHORT EARED OWL (Asio flammeus)

The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may not be visible. The short-eared owl will display its tufts when in a defensive pose, although its very short tufts are usually not visible. The short-eared owl is found in open country and grasslands.

The short-eared owl was formally described in 1763 by the Lutheran bishop Erik Pontoppidan under the binomial name Strix flammea. The specific epithet is from the Latin flammeus meaning "flammulated" or "flame-coloured". This owl is now placed with seven other species in the genus Asio that was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.

The short-eared owl is a medium-sized owl measuring 34–43 cm (13–17 in) in length and weighing 206–475 g (7.3–16.8 oz).[9] It has large eyes, a big head, a short neck, and broad wings. Its bill is short, strong, hooked and black. Its plumage is mottled tawny to brown with a barred tail and wings. The upper breast is significantly streaked. Its flight is characteristically floppy due to its irregular wingbeats. The short-eared owl may also be described as "moth or bat-like" in flight. Wingspans range from 85 to 110 cm (33 to 43 in). Females are slightly larger than males. The yellow-orange eyes of A. flammeus are exaggerated by black rings encircling each eye, giving the appearance of them wearing mascara, and large, whitish disks of plumage surrounding the eyes like a mask.

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.

Short Eared Owl in its habitat. Notice how it chooses short shady trees to roost under, in a grassland/ desert habitat.

The short-eared owl occurs on all continents except Antarctica and Australia; thus it has one of the most widespread distributions of any bird. A. flammeus breeds in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands. It is partially migratory, moving south in winter from the northern parts of its range. The short-eared owl is known to relocate to areas of higher rodent populations. It will also wander nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low.

Sexual maturity is attained at one year. Breeding season in the northern hemisphere lasts from March to June, peaking in April. During this time these owls may gather in flocks. During breeding season, the males make great spectacles of themselves in flight to attract females. The male swoops down over the nest flapping its wings in a courtship display. These owls are generally monogamous.

The short-eared owl nests on the ground in prairie, tundra, savanna, or meadow habitats. Nests are concealed by low vegetation, and may be lightly lined by weeds, grass, or feathers. Approximately 4 to 7 white eggs are found in a typical clutch, but clutch size can reach up to a dozen eggs in years when voles are abundant. There is one brood per year. The eggs are incubated mostly by the female for 21–37 days. Offspring fledge at a little over four weeks. This owl is known to lure predators away from its nest by appearing to have a crippled wing.

Hunting occurs mostly at night, but this owl is known to be diurnal and crepuscular as well. Its daylight hunting seems to coincide with the high-activity periods of voles, its preferred prey. It tends to fly only feet above the ground in open fields and grasslands until swooping down upon its prey feet-first. Several owls may hunt over the same open area. Its food consists mainly of rodents, especially voles, but it will eat other small mammals such as rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, shrews, rats, bats, muskrats and moles. It will also occasionally depredate smaller birds, especially when near sea-coasts and adjacent wetlands at which time they attack shorebirds, terns and small gulls and seabirds with semi-regularity. Avian prey is more infrequently preyed on inland and centers on passerines such as larks, icterids, starlings, tyrant flycatchers and pipits. Insects supplement the diet and short-eared owls may prey on roaches, grasshoppers, beetles, katydids and caterpillars. Competition can be fierce in North America with the northern harrier, with which the owl shares similar habitat and prey preferences. Both species will readily harass the other when prey is caught.

Through much of its range, short-eared owls occurs with the similar-looking long-eared owl. At rest, the ear-tufts of the long-eared owl serve to easily distinguish the two (although long-eared owls can sometimes hold their ear-tufts flat). The iris-colour differs: yellow in the short-eared, and orange in the long-eared, and the black surrounding the eyes is vertical on the long-eared, and horizontal on the short-eared. Overall the short-eared tends to be a paler, sandier bird than the long-eared. The long-eared owl generally has different habitat preferences from the short-eared, most often being found concealed in areas with dense wooded thickets. The short-eared owl is often most regularly seen flying about in early morning or late day as it hunts over open habitats. 

Because of the high pH in the stomach of owls they have a reduced ability to digest bone and other hard parts, so they eject pellets containing the remains of their prey.

The short-eared owl has an estimated global population of 1,200,000 to 2,100,000 and a very large range. On that basis, it is evaluated by the IUCN as a species of least concern.

It is listed as declining in the southern portion of its United States range. It is common in the northern portion of its breeding range. It is listed as endangered in New Mexico. Its appearance at the Calverton Executive Airpark on Long Island has prompted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to take the lead on ruling whether a massive redevelopment of the airport will receive the necessary environmental permits.