(Vocalisation heading & Bird Song Category) |
(User template, flight photo uploaded. Some deleted text replaced) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | [[Image:Long-eared_Owl.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by | + | [[Image:Long-eared_Owl.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Etow|Etow}} <br />Location: North-central [[Ohio]], [[USA]] <br />North American subspecies ''wilsonianus'']] |
'''Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl''' | '''Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl''' | ||
;[[:Category:Asio|Asio]] otus | ;[[:Category:Asio|Asio]] otus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Medium sized owl, orange face. Two long 'ears' which give it its name. | + | Medium sized owl, orange face. Two long 'ears' which give it its name. Plumage is grey and rufous-buff |
| + | |||
| + | When seen close to it can look surprisingly cat-like. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]] | + | [[Image:Leo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|lior+kislev|lior kislev}}<br />Photographed at Samak wadi, Golan, [[Israel]]]] |
| + | |||
| + | Occurs across [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]], widespread and fairly common over much of the [[Western Palearctic]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Breeds''' in [[Britain]] and [[Ireland]], and from [[Iberia]] east to the Urals and Caspian, north to central [[Norway]] coast and head of the Gulf of Bothnia. Found south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern [[Spain]] to [[Greece]] and breeds on [[Balearics]] and at a few scattered sites in [[Turkey]]. Also breeds in the [[Azores]] and [[Canary Islands]] and rarely in North-West [[Africa]]. First breeding record for [[Egypt]] in 1987 and may breed at scattered sites in the [[Middle East]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Northern birds are mainly migratory, leaving breeding areas in October-November to winter in western and southern Europe, and returning in March-May, those further south are resident with some dispersal of young birds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Vagrants''' recorded on [[Svalbard]], [[Bear Island]], [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroes]] to the north, and to the south in [[Kuwait]] and [[Iraq]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
There are four recognised subspecies. | There are four recognised subspecies. | ||
| Line 11: | Line 21: | ||
Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest. | Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | Migrates in winter (example: to [[United Kingdom]] from [[Scandinavia]]). Sometimes forms large, communal roosts during daytime in autumn and winter | ||
| + | |||
Nocturnal and crepuscular. | Nocturnal and crepuscular. | ||
| − | + | ====Diet==== | |
| − | Diet is mainly voles. | + | Diet is mainly voles and small rodents. |
| − | + | ====Breeding==== | |
It nests in old nest of other birds. | It nests in old nest of other birds. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Asio otus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Asio otus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Asio otus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Asio otus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #Collins Field Guide 5th Edition | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Asio+otus}} | {{GSearch|Asio+otus}} | ||
Revision as of 12:47, 18 March 2009
Alternative name: Northern Long-eared Owl
- Asio otus
Identification
Medium sized owl, orange face. Two long 'ears' which give it its name. Plumage is grey and rufous-buff
When seen close to it can look surprisingly cat-like.
Distribution
Occurs across Europe, Asia and North America, widespread and fairly common over much of the Western Palearctic.
Breeds in Britain and Ireland, and from Iberia east to the Urals and Caspian, north to central Norway coast and head of the Gulf of Bothnia. Found south to the north Mediterranean coast from southern Spain to Greece and breeds on Balearics and at a few scattered sites in Turkey. Also breeds in the Azores and Canary Islands and rarely in North-West Africa. First breeding record for Egypt in 1987 and may breed at scattered sites in the Middle East.
Northern birds are mainly migratory, leaving breeding areas in October-November to winter in western and southern Europe, and returning in March-May, those further south are resident with some dispersal of young birds.
Vagrants recorded on Svalbard, Bear Island, Iceland and the Faroes to the north, and to the south in Kuwait and Iraq.
Taxonomy
There are four recognised subspecies.
Habitat
Deciduous, mixed and coniferous woodland and forest.
Behaviour
Migrates in winter (example: to United Kingdom from Scandinavia). Sometimes forms large, communal roosts during daytime in autumn and winter
Nocturnal and crepuscular.
Diet
Diet is mainly voles and small rodents.
Breeding
It nests in old nest of other birds.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Asio otus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
External Links
