Long-Eared Owl

General information

This owl is of smaller size with orange eyes and long tufts on top of the head. These are not actually part of the owl's ears despite their name and the common misuse of the phrase 'ear tufts' when describing the feather tufts of owls. They are actually better described as more like expressive eyebrows!

The Long-eared Owl is thinly spread throughout the UK and is seldom spotted due to its incredibly camouflaged plumage. Their population is approximately 1,800-6,000 pairs, however, this is a vast difference due to the declining numbers. The main issue, as for much of our birds of prey in the UK, is road traffic, deforestation and habitat loss and use of pesticides and rodenticides.

It is mainly a crepuscular bird hunting for small mammals, in particular, mice and voles.

The breeding season begins from February onwards and the pair will choose to nest in conifer trees, using a hollow or old disused nest. The female will lay 2 to 10 eggs with a 1 to 2 day interval.

The male feeds the female as she incubates the eggs for 25 to 30 days. By the end of August the young are independent of the parents but are not sexually mature until the end of their first year.