Long-eared owl

The long-eared owl only breeds when it is a good mouse year. As a habitat, the long-eared owl needs above all open terrain with low plant growth. In Central Europe, it is therefore a bird of open cultural landscape. It is found mainly in areas with a high proportion of permanent green areas and near bogs. It occurs even in high mountains, provided there is enough prey. Forests provide the long-eared owl with sufficient habitat only when there is enough space for hunting. In contrast, the long-eared owl uses the forest edge as a resting place during the day and as a breeding ground. She prefers coniferous trees, which offer sufficient cover and in which are old nests of crows and magpies. Where such forest edges are missing, it also deviates into smaller groups of trees or hedges. The long-eared owl also populates peripheral areas of cities, especially if they border on agricultural areas.

Species name: Long-eared owl
Scientific Name: Asio otus
Class: birds
Order: owls
Family: Real owls
Weight: approx. 280 g
Characteristics: Orange-yellow eyes, long feathers on the ears, ears hidden under the plumage, slender and long-winged
Lifetime: about 28 years
Enemies: eagle owl, buzzard, marten
Breeding season: March / April
Scrub: 4 - 8 eggs
Breeding period: 28 days
Food: field mice, small animals and small birds

Did you know, that...
the tufts on the head of the long-eared owl are not ears, but only feathers, which they can put on or put up according to their mood?