Long-eared Owl
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Current revision (18:31, 26 April 2015) (view source) |
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'''Scientific Name:''' Asio otus | '''Scientific Name:''' Asio otus | ||
| - | '''Size:''' Males 13 ½ inches (34 cm); | + | '''Size:''' Males 13 ½ inches (34 cm); '''Wingspan:''' 38 inches (96 cm) |
'''Habitat:''' North America, Africa and Eurasia; widely distributed in North America, Eurasia and northern Africa. Found in open woodlands, forest edges, riparian strips along rivers, hedgerows, juniper thickets, woodlots, and wooded ravines and gullies. Breeding habitat must include thickly wooded areas for nesting and roosting with nearby open spaces for hunting. During winter, they need dense conifer groves or brushy thickets to roost in. Roosting sites are usually in the heaviest forest cover available. Unlike most other Owls, during winter they may roost communally with 7 to 50 Owls.. | '''Habitat:''' North America, Africa and Eurasia; widely distributed in North America, Eurasia and northern Africa. Found in open woodlands, forest edges, riparian strips along rivers, hedgerows, juniper thickets, woodlots, and wooded ravines and gullies. Breeding habitat must include thickly wooded areas for nesting and roosting with nearby open spaces for hunting. During winter, they need dense conifer groves or brushy thickets to roost in. Roosting sites are usually in the heaviest forest cover available. Unlike most other Owls, during winter they may roost communally with 7 to 50 Owls.. | ||
| - | '''Status:''' Least Concern. Global population: 1,500,000 to 5,000,000. Many are killed by shooting and collision with vehicles. Natural enemies of adult birds include Great Horned and Barred Owls. Raccoons are major predators of eggs and nestlings. | + | '''Status:''' Least Concern. '''Global population:''' 1,500,000 to 5,000,000. Many are killed by shooting and collision with vehicles. Natural enemies of adult birds include Great Horned and Barred Owls. Raccoons are major predators of eggs and nestlings. |
'''Diet:''' Primarily on mammals. In most areas voles are the most common prey, but deer mice are the most important prey in other areas. In southwestern deserts, pocket mice and kangaroo rats are primary foods. Other mammal prey includes squirrels, bats, chipmunks, gophers, shrews, moles, and cottontail rabbits. Birds are also taken, occasionally on the wing. Most bird prey are smaller species that occur on or near the ground. Bird prey includes meadowlarks, blackbirds, juncos, Horned Larks, doves, bluebirds, and thrashers. Larger birds such as grouse and screech-Owls are occasionally taken. Long-eared Owls sometimes eat insects, frogs, and snakes. | '''Diet:''' Primarily on mammals. In most areas voles are the most common prey, but deer mice are the most important prey in other areas. In southwestern deserts, pocket mice and kangaroo rats are primary foods. Other mammal prey includes squirrels, bats, chipmunks, gophers, shrews, moles, and cottontail rabbits. Birds are also taken, occasionally on the wing. Most bird prey are smaller species that occur on or near the ground. Bird prey includes meadowlarks, blackbirds, juncos, Horned Larks, doves, bluebirds, and thrashers. Larger birds such as grouse and screech-Owls are occasionally taken. Long-eared Owls sometimes eat insects, frogs, and snakes. | ||
