Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Asio (specific designate of Long-eared Owl) flammeus ("fiery" or "flammulated"")

Adult Short-Eared Owl (subspecies A. f. flammeus) at Nene Washes, Cambridgeshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Asio flammeus flammeus
Weight: 210-475g  /  Length: 32-43cm  /  Wingspan: 85-110cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Short-Eared Owl is perhaps one of the most visually striking UK owls, with its large yellow eyes.  Found on moorland for much of the year, it migrates south to more hospitible climes during the Winter where it may form roosts of multiple individuals, sometimes mixed with Long Earred Owls.  Unlike most owls, it is primarily a daylight flying bird, thus making it theoretically easier to see than all other species, it is however conversely more localised than Barn, Tawny or Little, so you actually need a reliable site to find them. 

Related Species:
Order:  Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Asio
Subspecies: A. f. flammeus, A. f. sandwichensis, A. f. domingensis, A. f. bogatensis, A. f. suinda, A. f. sanfordi, A. f. ponapensis, A. f. galapogoensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (600-2200 pairs) and scarce to locally abundant eruptive Winter visitor (5000-50000 birds)

 - Sites in good years have included Rutland Water, Harrington Airfield, Sheppey and Elmley Marshes

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

OTHER NAMES: Common Long-eared Owl, Northern Long-eared Owl, Lesser Horned Owl
Latin Etymology: Asio (specific designate of Long-eared Owl) otus ("eared owl")

 Adult Long-aeared Owl (subspecies A. o. otus) at Nene Washes, Cambridgeshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Asio otus otus
Weight: 250g  /  Length: 35-40cm  /  Wingspan: 90-100cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Long eared owls are one of the rarer species of owl in the UK and certainly the most secretive. Your best bet is probably to follow someone else discovery and look for them at a nature reserve where they have been reported as roosting. Keep a respectful distance from the roost and don't go off paths to avoid disturbing them. Photographically, you may, as I have, have to contended with photographing through a thicket producing less than ideal results.

Related Species:
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Asio
Subspecies: A. o. otus, A. o. canariensis, A. o. tuftsi, A. o. wilsonianus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding resident (1800-6000 pairs) and rare Winter Visitor 

 - A single bird seen at Rutland Water in 2009, 4 birds at Deeping Lakes, Lincolnshire in January 2021, 2 birds at Nene Washes in February 2024

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-canto

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