The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized owl found throughout Europe, Asia, North America and parts of North Africa. It is one of the most widely distributed owls in the world. Long-eared owls are slim, long-winged owls with prominent erect ear tufts, which are positioned in the center of the head. Their name refers to the elongated feather tufts on each side of their heads, which are commonly called “ears”. While many owl species have ear tufts, the ones on long-eared owls are particularly prominent, about 5 cm long. These tufts help break up the shape of the owl’s head and body. The feathers can be raised or lowered depending on the owl’s mood. When raised upright, the ear tufts may help channel sounds towards the bird’s ears. When folded down, they conceal the outline of the head and make the owl less conspicuous when roosting.
The long-eared owl gets its common name from prominent, long ear tufts. These tufts are made of 6-8 feathers. The ear tufts are more noticeable when the owl is alert. When relaxed, the tufts lay nearly flat against the head. The coloration of long-eared owls is mottled shades of brown, buff and gray which provides excellent camouflage against tree bark. The underparts are vertically streaked and the face is ringed with dark coloration surrounding the yellow eyes. The yellow eyes stand out against the darker facial disk. Long-eared owls have an orange-yellow colored bill. The legs and toes are fully feathered. Their wingspan ranges from about 80-95 cm with females being slightly larger than males on average. Their body length is 35-40 cm and they weigh from 220 to 440 g.
Long-eared owls are nocturnal hunters but not exclusive night owls. They will readily hunt in twilight when prey become active and are more easily captured. Their preferred prey includes small mammals such as voles, mice, rats, rabbits and shrews. They will also prey on small birds, lizards, frogs, moths and beetles. These resourceful owls utilize several hunting techniques including perch-and-wait hunting, short hovering flights and even walking on the ground in pursuit of prey. Their mottled brown plumage provides excellent camouflage against the bark of tree perches. The facial ruff also helps conceal movement while waiting to ambush passing prey. With their acute sense of hearing, long-eared owls can detect and precisely locate prey in vegetation or under the snow. The owls often pluck prey from grasses and carry it to a nearby perch to feed. They swallow small prey whole and only larger prey is torn into pieces before eating. Indigestible remains like bones, fur and feathers are compacted into a pellet which the owl later regurgitates.
Long-eared Owls in Scotland
The long-eared owl has a widespread distribution across Scotland and occurs in suitable habitat throughout the country. Scotland represents the northwest limit of the long-eared owl’s global breeding range. While found throughout mainland Scotland, long-eared owls occur more sparsely in the northwest Highlands and on some of the outer isles. The species is absent from Orkney and Shetland. Overall, long-eared owls have a broad habitat tolerance and utilize a mix of woodlands, scrublands, heaths, moors, parks and gardens across Scotland. Mature conifer forests with open clearings seem to be preferred in the Highlands. In the lowlands, they frequent deciduous and mixed woodlands as well as scrublands. Proximity to grasslands or other open areas for hunting is an important requirement.
Long-eared owls are primarily permanent residents in Scotland, forgoing migration in favor of establishing year-round territories. Some altitudinal movements may occur in winter as the owls move to lower elevations. The total number of long-eared owls in Scotland is estimated between 2,500 to 5,000 breeding pairs. Their populations went through declines in the late 20th century linked to historical persecution and the loss of suitable habitat. Populations are considered recovered and stable today. As nocturnal and secretive birds, long-eared owls can be overlooked during surveys. Their cryptic plumage, inconspicuous daytime roosting habits and lack of territorial vocalizations also make them harder to monitor compared to other owls. Even when present, long-eared owls can go undetected in an area. More extensive surveying is needed to clarify their distribution and populations in Scotland.
Breeding
Long-eared owls begin their breeding season early while winter still has a grip on the landscape. In Scotland, breeding activities start in late January and February. As nocturnal owls, their courtship occurs after dark and involves a lot of male hooting interspersed with short swooping flights around the nest area. Males select potential nest sites then advertise them to females with intensified hooting. After pairing up, the female chooses which nest site to use. Long-eared owls are flexible in utilizing nests built by other birds like crows, magpies, squirrels and even old raven nests. They will also use tree hollows or cavities in cliffs and buildings. The female scrapes together a simple ground nest lined with feathers, sticks and vegetation. On average 4-6 glossy white eggs are laid. The female incubates the eggs for 25-30 days while the male provides food. The chicks hatch asynchronously over several days and are brooded by the female for the first two weeks. The male continues to deliver food which the female tears up into smaller bits to feed the chicks. After two weeks, the female also begins hunting. The chicks fledge the nest at around 7-8 weeks. They remain dependent on the parents for another 6-8 weeks as they learn to hunt successfully and navigate their surroundings. Juveniles disperse in early fall to establish their own territories.
Diet
Long-eared owls are opportunistic predators that consume a variety of small prey. Voles comprise the bulk of their diet in Scotland. Field voles and bank voles are particular favorite sources of food. Other small mammals like mice, shrews, rats and rabbits are also readily taken. Bird prey becomes more important in the diet during the breeding season. Sparrows, starlings, thrushes and finches may all fall victim to a long-eared owl. On occasion, larger birds like pigeons and game birds are attacked. Amphibians like frogs and reptiles like lizards get snatched up. Large insects like beetles and moths supplement their diet.
Long-eared owls are patient hunters, capable of remaining perfectly still for long periods watching and listening for prey. They often hunt from a perch overlooking open ground or by flying low over habitats. Their mottled brown plumage provides camouflage against the trees they perch in. With their acute hearing, the owls can detect and pinpoint the location of active, moving prey on the ground below. They drop down on silent wings to snatch unsuspecting prey with their talons. At other times, they employ a technique called “hover hunting”, rapidly beating their wings to flush out and grab hidden prey. Low approaches and short hovering flights startle prey into movement, revealing their presence and location. Long-eared owls will also hunt on foot, walking stealthily across the ground listening for prey under vegetation. When nesting, the owls regularly hunt over more open habitats like wet meadows, pastures and moorlands which support high densities of voles and mice.
Threats
While long-eared owl populations are considered healthy and sustainable today in Scotland, they still face a variety of threats and declining habitat quality:
– Habitat loss – The loss and fragmentation of natural and semi-natural woodlands reduces available nesting and roosting sites. Large-scale afforestation with non-native conifer plantations reduces habitat suitability by eliminating open areas for hunting.
– Disturbance – Long-eared owls are sensitive to disturbance near their nest sites, which can cause adults to abandon eggs or young chicks. Repeated disturbance events can drive owls from otherwise suitable breeding areas.
– Road mortality – Owls hunting along roadside verges and edges at night are vulnerable to being hit by vehicles. Roads with speeding traffic crisscrossing owls’ territories take a regular toll.
– Secondary poisoning – The use of rodenticides to control mice, rats and voles may result in owls being secondarily poisoned through eating contaminated prey. Anticoagulant rodenticides can have lethal and sub-lethal effects.
– Lack of nest sites – Competition and conflicts with other birds for limited nest cavities may restrict breeding. The loss of mature broadleaf trees and natural cavities affects nest site availability.
While not currently threatened in Scotland, conservation measures such as protecting woodlands and creating nest boxes can benefit the owls. Public education and road mitigation can also reduce unnecessary deaths. Regular monitoring of populations is advisable to ensure this iconic nocturnal bird remains a part of Scotland’s biodiversity.
Conclusion
The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl species widely distributed across mainland Scotland. They can be found year-round inhabiting a variety of wooded habitats from native pinewoods to parklands. With their long, prominent ear tufts and mottled brown plumage, these are distinctive owls active at dawn and dusk. Though not considered threatened, long-eared owl populations face pressures from habitat loss and disturbance. Their nocturnal habits make them difficult to survey thoroughly but populations are considered stable at 2,500-5,000 breeding pairs in Scotland. Conservation measures like protecting mature woodlands and reducing rodenticide use can benefit these owls. Maintaining connectivity between suitable habitat patches allows these mobile predators to disperse and hunt across the landscape. With a flexible diet dominated by voles and small mammals, the long-eared owl fills an important ecological role in Scotland as a top nocturnal predator. Their presence contributes to the country’s wildlife diversity.
Characteristics | Descriptions |
---|---|
Species | Asio otus (long-eared owl) |
Length | 35-40 cm |
Wingspan | 80-95 cm |
Weight | 220-440 g |
Key features | Long ear tufts, yellow eyes, mottled brown plumage |
Diet | Voles, mice, small mammals, small birds |
Population in Scotland | 2,500 – 5,000 breeding pairs |
Are there long eared owls in Scotland? – In Conclusion
The long-eared owl is present and breeds across many regions of Scotland. They occur year-round in suitable habitat which includes native woodlands, commercial forests, scrublands, moors and semi-urban parks. Long-eared owls are nocturnal predators that feed mainly on small mammals like voles, mice and shrews. They nest in cavities in trees, cliffs or old nests built by other birds. Current populations in Scotland are estimated at 2,500 to 5,000 breeding pairs. Though not considered threatened, habitat loss and mortality from roads impact populations. Protecting mature woodlands and reducing disturbance near nest sites benefits these owls. Overall, long-eared owls remain widely distributed nocturnal predators contributing to Scotland’s biodiversity. Their presence as a breeding species is well documented across the country.