Wildlifeof Nepal
Long-eared Owl
Owls
Photo: (c) Charlotte Kirchner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Asio otus
Basic stats
Diet
Small rodents, especially voles; birds and insects in other conditions
Habitat
Semi-open habitats, roosting and nesting in dense woodland but hunting over open ground
Size
31–40cm; wingspan 86–102cm
Weight
Males 160–330g; females 180–435g
The long-eared owl is a medium-sized typical owl with an extensive range, 31–40 cm long with a relatively large wingspan of 86–102 cm; males weigh 160–330 g and females 180–435 g. The genus name Asio is Latin for horned owl. It primarily hunts small rodents, especially voles, but during population cycles of its regular prey, or in arid, insular or urban habitats, it takes diverse prey including birds and insects (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in Europe, the Palearctic and North America, and it prefers semi-open habitats, particularly woodland edge, roosting and nesting in dense stands of trees but hunting over open ground. It uses nests built by other animals, especially crows (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Long-eared Owl eat?
- Small rodents, especially voles; birds and insects in other conditions
- What habitat does the Long-eared Owl live in?
- Semi-open habitats, roosting and nesting in dense woodland but hunting over open ground
- How big is the Long-eared Owl?
- 31–40cm; wingspan 86–102cm
- How much does the Long-eared Owl weigh?
- Males 160–330g; females 180–435g