North American field guide
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Identification
Field notes
33-43 cm (13-17") Fairly common. Open country, plains, dunes, and marshes; nests on ground.
Medium-sized owl with small inconspicuous ear tufts. Dark areas around yellow eyes like sunglasses. Boldly streaked breast.
Most active at dusk and dawn.
In flight; distinctive bounding, butterfly-like flight with a quick upstroke. Buffy upperwing patch; black patch at bend on underwings. Wings held upward like a harrier's.
Song: bark "kee-yow wow", usually silent.
Watch and learn
Videos
Short-eared Owl Greatham Creek 1st Nov 2012
Credit: Ian ForrestAn Introduction to the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - by Wild Owl
Credit: Wild Owl TV with Ian McGuireSeparating Short-eared and Long-eared Owls
Credit: BTOvideoWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Short-eared Owl
1 ruleRule 1 8 criteria · confidence 3
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Hooked · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Owl