Short-eared Owl

Name: Short-eared Owl

Scientific name: Asio flammeus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 70

What are nature stars?

About: Short-eared Owls mainly hunt during the daytime, flying low over moorland, grassland and salt marshes where they feed on field voles and small birds. About the same size as the Barn Owl, but with long wings. Short-eared Owls are yellowy-brown above with t

How to identify: Differs from the Barn Owl, which is likely to be seen in similar habitats, by being darker with streaky plumage. The very similar Long-eared Owl is darker, with orangey red eyes and long ears, as well as being a more nocturnal bird, usually found near woo

Where: Nests on moorlands and young conifer plantations in north and west Britain, winters in the lowlands particularly wet grasslands and around the coast.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 80
• Agility: 40
• Rarity: 80
• Cute factor: 60
• Traveller: 70

Fantastic fact: Some Short-eared Owls migrate here from the continent for the winter, and can occasionally be seen flying in off the sea.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc