Birds · Strigiformes · Strigidae

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It builds no nest of its own but takes over those abandoned by other birds, especially crows or squirrels. It is a master of camouflage: when threatened it stretches out and compresses its plumage to look like a branch.

Weight

178 g – 435 g

Size

31 cm – 40 cm

Lifespan

4 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Bird Temperate forest

48countries 210parks18same family

Fun facts

defensaBy day it can hold itself long and thin, ear tufts raised, to blend into the bark of the tree it roosts in.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Coniferous and mixed woodland with open ground nearby for hunting, across much of Europe, Asia and North America
Birth weight: 17.4 grams
Size at birth: Semi-altricial, blind on hatching and covered in whitish down
Sexual maturity: 1 year
Gestation / incubation: 25-30 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 10 eggs per clutch (most commonly 4-6)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of more than 10-20 years in captivity