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Six subspecies of Asio otus are recognized. The population endemic to Madagascar is usually treated as a full species (Asio madagascariensis).
Long-eared owls use a wide repertoire of calls to communicate primarily during the breeding season. They are mostly silent at other times of the year. The most common vocalizations are soft musical hoots and single quavering hoots. When excited, long-eared owls may also shriek or whistle. Alarm calls are demonstrated by both sexes. Parents strongly defend their young, with vocalizations as well as a "crippled wing act" used as a lure. Threat displays are also used, generally directed at human intruders or predators rather than toward one another.
Long-eared owls have excellent hearing and vision that aids them in perceiving their environment and in catching prey.
Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Populations of long-eared owls are difficult to track. However, within the U.S., populations appear to be largely stable, with declines locally in some states, including New Jersey, Minnesota and California. Most deaths are probably due to starvation or predation, though destruction of vegetation and alteration of habitat are also potential causes of population declines. Adults are occasionally killed by cars or shot by hunters in the U.S., but this is not common.
Long-eared owls are protected under CITES Appendix II and the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. They are not federally endangered or threatened in the United States, but they are considered threatened in the state of Michigan.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: appendix ii
State of Michigan List: threatened
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Long-eared owls have no known negative effect on humans.
Long-eared owls help to control populations of rodents that are considered to be agricultural pests.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Long-eared owls impact the local populations of their prey. They also host several external and internal parasites.
Long-eared owls hunt almost exclusively at night and in open habitats. During brood-rearing, they may begin hunting before sunset. Long-eared owls are active search-hunters. They most likely capture prey using their excellent low-light eyesight and their superb hearing. Most prey are captured on the ground or from low vegetation.
Long-eared owls probably prey opportunistically on small mammals under 100 g. Their principal prey are voles and deer mice. Other small mammals taken include pocket mice, kangaroo rats, pocket gophers, shrews (genera Glarina, Cryptotis and Sorex), juvenile rabbits (genera Sylvilagus and Lepus) and juvenile rats. Long-eared owls also occasionally eat small birds, small snakes, and insects. After capturing prey, long-eared owls kill it by biting the back of the skull and then swallow it whole. Excess prey is stored at the nest during incubation and during the nestling stage.
There is no information available regarding how long-eared owls drink or obtain sufficient water.
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; reptiles; insects
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
Long-eared owls are found throughout the northern hemisphere. Their range extends throughout temperate North America, through Europe and the former Soviet Union as far east as Japan. Isolated populations are also found North and East Africa, the Azores, and the Canary Islands.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: holarctic
Long-eared owls inhabit dense vegetation close to grasslands, as well as open forests shrub lands from sea level up to 2000 m elevation. They are common in tree belts along streams of plains and even desert oases. They can also be found in shelterbelts, small tree groves, thickets surrounded by wetlands, grasslands, marshes and farmlands.
Range elevation: 0 to 2000 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest
Wetlands: marsh
Other Habitat Features: agricultural ; riparian
The oldest known wild long-eared owl lived 27 years and 9 months. Adult annual survivorship in Germany and Switzerland was estimated to be 69%.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 27.8 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 133 months.
Long-eared owls are medium-sized owls. Females are generally much larger than males, (260 to 435 g and 27 to 40 cm in length versus 220-305 g and 35 to 37.5 cm in length for males). Long-eared owls are the most slender of all North American owls, an attribute that they use as a defense against predators. When perched, long-eared owls elongate their body and ear tufts, and compresses its feathers, making them resembles a tree limb. Long-eared owls have long, rounded wings and a long tail. The wings are so long that they cross each other in the back when the bird is perched. The wingspan of adults ranges from 90 to 100 cm. The head of long-eared owls is large and round, topped with long blackish ear tufts that are close together and are not visible in flight.
Long-eared owls are brownish gray, with vertical streaks that distinguishing them from great horned owls, which have horizontal streaks. Long-eared owls have pale patches on the face that give the appearance of white eyebrows, and a white patch below the bill. They have a black bill, orange or yellow eyes, and their legs and toes are completely feathered.
Females are generally darker and more richly colored than males. Juveniles look similar to adults, but have softer, looser feathers.
Range mass: 220 to 435 g.
Range length: 35 to 40 cm.
Range wingspan: 90 to 100 cm.
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger; sexes colored or patterned differently
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Average basal metabolic rate: 0.954 W.
Adult long-eared owls are preyed upon by many other raptors. Raptors that have been observed taking long-eared owls include great-horned owls, barred owls, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, northern goshawks, eagle owls, common buzzards, and peregrine falcons. Incubating female long-eared owls have been killed by raccoons.
Long-eared owl nestlings are vulnerable to predation by porcupines, bull snakes, American crows, black-billed magpies, and several hawk species.
Roosting adults are difficult to see because their coloration, slender body and ear tufts help them to look like a branch of the tree that they are roosting in. When a predator approaches a nest, adult long-eared owls defend the eggs or young by circling the nest and snapping their bill at the predator, or dive-bombing the predator while making alarm calls. They may also pretend to be injured in order to draw the predator away from the nest. In some cases, adults from several nearby nests may all perform defense displays when a single nest is threatened.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Long-eared owls are monogamous, though polygyny is occasionally observed in this species. Pairs begin to form in winter, and breeding takes place from February to mid-July. Males advertise for a mate using songs and aerial displays, such as zig-zag flights through trees in the breeding habitat.
Mating System: monogamous
Long-eared owls breed between February and July, and raise one brood per season. Males begin advertising for a mate as early as January. They use songs and aerial displays to attract a female.
Long-eared owls nest in trees, usually in stick nests built by other species. They may occasionally build a nest of their own, or use a nest located in an old tree stump or on the ground, but this is uncommon. Once a nest is selected, the female lays 2 to 10 (usually 5 to 6) eggs at 2-day intervals. The eggs are white, smooth and glossy. The female incubates the eggs for 25 to 30 (usually 26-28) days. She never leaves the eggs uncovered during the day, though she takes short breaks at night. The chicks are semi-altricial, and are brooded by the female for at least 2 weeks. The young leave the nest at about 21 days, though they are still flightless (called branching), and reside in nearby vegetation. They begin making short flights at about 35 days old and become independent at 10 to 11 weeks old. The male provides food for the female and owlets throughout incubation and brood-rearing. Long-eared owls usually begin breeding at 1 year.
Long-eared owls breed between February and July. They raise one brood per season. Long-eared owls nest in trees in nests built by other species. Once they choose a nest, the female lays 2 to 10 (usually 5 to 6) eggs. She lays one egg every other day. The eggs are white, smooth and glossy. The female incubates the eggs for 25 to 30 (usually 26-28) days. She never leaves the eggs uncovered during the day, but she takes short breaks at night. The chicks are semi-altricial. The female broods them for at least 2 weeks. The young leave the nest when they are about 21 days old, but they cannot fly yet. They leave the nest by walking, and live on branches near the nest. They begin flying when they are about 35 days old. The male brings food for the female and chicks until the chicks become independent. This happens when they are 10 to 11 weeks old. Long-eared owls usually begin breeding at 1 year.
Breeding interval: Long-eared owls breed once yearly.
Breeding season: Long-eared owls breed between February and July.
Range eggs per season: 2 to 10.
Average eggs per season: 5-6.
Range time to hatching: 25 to 30 days.
Average time to hatching: 26-28 days.
Average fledging age: 21 days.
Average time to independence: 8-9 weeks.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
Average eggs per season: 4.
Female long-eared owls incubate the eggs and brood the semi-altricial chicks for at least two weeks. During incubation and brood rearing, the male provides food for the female and chicks. The male continues to feed the chicks until they become independent at 10 to 11 weeks old.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male)
Resident breeder, regular passage visitor and winter visitor.
The long tufts of feathers on its forehead give the Long-eared Owl its name. Like all birds, however, the Long-eared Owl’s real ears are small openings hidden underneath the feathers on the sides of its head. This species possesses the short legs, rounded wings, large yellow eyes, and disk-shaped face characteristic of owls. Aside from its long ‘ears,’ this medium-sized (15 inches) owl may also be identified by its streaked body and buff-colored face. Males are generally slightly paler than females. The Long-eared Owl is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, this species breeds primarily across southern Canada and the northern tier of the United States. Smaller populations occur in the Rocky Mountains, along the coast of California, and at high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains. The Long-eared Owl occurs year-round in its breeding range, but individuals may disperse long distances during winter in search of food, wandering as far as the southern United States and central Mexico. In the Old World, this species breeds from Northern Europe across to Japan, wintering south to North Africa and South Asia. Other non-migratory populations occur in highland climates in Africa and on islands south of this species’ main range. The Long-eared Owl breeds in open evergreen or deciduous forests. Individuals remaining on breeding grounds during winter utilize the same habitats as in summer; individuals wandering south utilize forest habitats in those areas. Typical for an owl, the Long-eared Owl eats small mammals, such as mice, voles, and shrews, and may be found in greater numbers where prey is plentiful. The Long-eared Owl uses its excellent hearing to locate prey on the ground in order to fly down and capture it with its talons. Also, like most owls, this species hunts almost exclusively at night, making it difficult to observe. Long-eared Owls are most visible roosting high in trees during the day, especially in winter, when this species may form large communal roosts.
The long tufts of feathers on its forehead give the Long-eared Owl its name. Like all birds, however, the Long-eared Owl’s real ears are small openings hidden underneath the feathers on the sides of its head. This species possesses the short legs, rounded wings, large yellow eyes, and disk-shaped face characteristic of owls. Aside from its long ‘ears,’ this medium-sized (15 inches) owl may also be identified by its streaked body and buff-colored face. Males are generally slightly paler than females. The Long-eared Owl is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, this species breeds primarily across southern Canada and the northern tier of the United States. Smaller populations occur in the Rocky Mountains, along the coast of California, and at high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains. The Long-eared Owl occurs year-round in its breeding range, but individuals may disperse long distances during winter in search of food, wandering as far as the southern United States and central Mexico. In the Old World, this species breeds from Northern Europe across to Japan, wintering south to North Africa and South Asia. Other non-migratory populations occur in highland climates in Africa and on islands south of this species’ main range. The Long-eared Owl breeds in open evergreen or deciduous forests. Individuals remaining on breeding grounds during winter utilize the same habitats as in summer; individuals wandering south utilize forest habitats in those areas. Typical for an owl, the Long-eared Owl eats small mammals, such as mice, voles, and shrews, and may be found in greater numbers where prey is plentiful. The Long-eared Owl uses its excellent hearing to locate prey on the ground in order to fly down and capture it with its talons. Also, like most owls, this species hunts almost exclusively at night, making it difficult to observe. Long-eared Owls are most visible roosting high in trees during the day, especially in winter, when this species may form large communal roosts.
In a Beijing green space larger than New York’s Central Park, biologist Bao Weidong is scanning the trees, looking for a shy bird that’s increasingly scarce: the long-eared owl. There used to be dozens of them across the city, but they’re vanishing. On the other side of the city, a wildlife rescue center is working to save other raptors that have run afoul of the city’s many perils. Can the raptors of Beijing stage a comeback, in the face of runaway development? Will the people of Beijing make room for raptors?
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Asio otus ye un ave estrixiforme, una especie de la familia Strigidae.
Ye de gran tamañu y abondo común nel Sur y el centru d'Europa. Habita en montes de coníferes cerca de zones de cultivos, n'ocasiones nel altu monte. Pel día puede ser vistu dormiendo en grupos en pinos altos, anque se camufla perbién. Paezse un pocu al búho campestre, esti postreru ye menos gordosu y llixeramente más grande. El búho chicu tien grandes guedeyes sobre la cabeza que paecen oreyes, la parte ventral de color crema y bien llistada, los güeyos de color naranxa o colloráu, puntes grises nes nales, la cola con unes franxes pocu marcaes y un par de llurdios escuros sobre les "muñeques". Sale namái de nueche.
La so voz ye un reclamu fondu, curtiu y apagáu tipu huh. Tamién puede faer chasquíos col picu p'asustar a los enemigos o proferir una especie de miaguíes.
Utiliza'l nial d'un córvidu o esguil. Pon de 3 a 5 güevos nuna niarada de marzu a xunu.
Caza fundamentalmente royedores como mures, aguarones y en menor midida aves ya inseutos. Espulsa dos egagrópilas al día por permediu, una nel llugar de descansu mientres el día y l'otra mientres caza
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Asio otus ye un ave estrixiforme, una especie de la familia Strigidae.
Ye de gran tamañu y abondo común nel Sur y el centru d'Europa. Habita en montes de coníferes cerca de zones de cultivos, n'ocasiones nel altu monte. Pel día puede ser vistu dormiendo en grupos en pinos altos, anque se camufla perbién. Paezse un pocu al búho campestre, esti postreru ye menos gordosu y llixeramente más grande. El búho chicu tien grandes guedeyes sobre la cabeza que paecen oreyes, la parte ventral de color crema y bien llistada, los güeyos de color naranxa o colloráu, puntes grises nes nales, la cola con unes franxes pocu marcaes y un par de llurdios escuros sobre les "muñeques". Sale namái de nueche.
La so voz ye un reclamu fondu, curtiu y apagáu tipu huh. Tamién puede faer chasquíos col picu p'asustar a los enemigos o proferir una especie de miaguíes.
Utiliza'l nial d'un córvidu o esguil. Pon de 3 a 5 güevos nuna niarada de marzu a xunu.
Caza fundamentalmente royedores como mures, aguarones y en menor midida aves ya inseutos. Espulsa dos egagrópilas al día por permediu, una nel llugar de descansu mientres el día y l'otra mientres caza
Nome n'otros idiomes: long-eared owl (inglés), mussol banyut (catalán), brúfol comú (valencianu), hontza ertain (eusquera), bufo pequeñu (gallegu). Llargor: de 35 a 37 cm Valumbu: de 84 a 95 cm Pesu: 210-330 g Llonxevidá: de 10 a 15 años Estatus: seguroAn toud penn-kazh[1], pe toud otus[2], ha berr-ha-berr "penn-kazh"[3], a zo un evn-preizh, Asio otus an anv skiantel anezhañ.
Bevañ a ra al labous en hantervoul norzh[4].
Bet anvet Strix otus gwechall.
a vo kavet e Wikimedia Commons.
An toud penn-kazh, pe toud otus, ha berr-ha-berr "penn-kazh", a zo un evn-preizh, Asio otus an anv skiantel anezhañ.
El mussol banyut o òliba amb orelles i mussol gros a les Balears (Asio otus) és un rapinyaire nocturn força freqüent als Països Catalans.
Es diferencia dels restants rapinyaires nocturns per tindre dues "banyes" de plomes erèctils de mida considerable i de tons brunencs amb la vorera més clara. L'erecció del plomall es relaciona amb el seu estat anímic.
Disc facial molt visible, de color bru lleonat, vorejat de negre, amb una taca blanca al costat de cada cara a la seua part inferior.
Els ulls, molt desenvolupats, són de color ataronjat en el cercle extern. Entre els dos ulls i deixant al mig el bec, unes plomes fan un disseny facial característic en forma de "X".
El cos mostra tonalitats brunes i grises amb ratlles i taques més fosques; amb tot, si són examinades de prop, aquestes tonalitats es diversifiquen en múltiples matisos. La seua coloració és força críptica, cosa que, combinada amb l'efecte disruptor dels plomalls, fa que passi molt desapercebut enmig del brancam.
Les manifestacions acústiques són més fàcilment audibles a la tardor que no pas a l'estiu. No es pot qualificar de molt garrulador, sobretot comparat amb l'òliba, el mussol o el gamarús.
S'alimenta, com la majoria de rapinyaires nocturns, de micromamífers i de moixons. Entre les seues preses són més abundants els rosegadors que els insectívors, i entre aquests tenen molta importància els talpons. Entre els ocells, els quals sembla que tenen una notable importància en la fixació de les parelles en l'espai, destaquen els moixons, concretament els pardals (gènere Passer) per bé que depreda sobre preses més grosses com ara grives, abellerols i puputs.
Tot i que sembla que pot existir una certa competència amb el gamarús si coexisteixen en els mateixos llocs (aquest darrer és més forestal i de medis antròpics), el mussol banyut, per la constitució de les seues ales i cua, està més capacitat per a volar i caçar en clarianes i espais oberts, per la qual cosa ecològicament resten força segregats en l'espai.
Al Principat de Catalunya [1] sembla localment abundant al baix Berguedà i al Solsonès. També s'ha trobat niant als boscos cerdans (el Cadí) i, fins i tot, a 1.850 m., en un solell de pineda de pi negre (Port del Comte).
Els boscanys i bosquets esclarissats són per a ell hàbitats preferencials, però no exclusius.
Nia en plataformes velles de còrvids on el nombre mitjà de polls és de tres.
El mussol banyut o òliba amb orelles i mussol gros a les Balears (Asio otus) és un rapinyaire nocturn força freqüent als Països Catalans.
Mae'r Dylluan Gorniog (Asio otus) yn aelod o deulu'r Strigidae, fel y rhan fwyaf o dylluanod. Mae'n aderyn cyffredin neu gweddol gyffredin trwy'r rhan fwyaf o Ewrop, Asia a Gogledd America.
Mae'r Dylluan Gorniog fel rheol yn byw mewn coedwigoedd sy'n agos i dir agored, lle gall hela. Mae'n nythu mewn coeden, gan ddefnyddio hen nythod adar eraill megis brain, ac yn dodwy 4 neu 5 wy. Mamaliaid bychain, yn enwedig llygod, yw'r prif fwyd ond gall fwyta adar hefyd.
Tylluan ganolig o ran maint yw'r aderyn yma, 31–37 cm o hyd a 86–98 cm ar draws yr adenydd. Fel rheol dim ond yn y nos y mae'n hela, ond weithiau gellir eu gweld yn cysgu mewn coeden yn ystod y dydd. Mae'r plu yn frown ar y cefn ac yn fwy gwelw ar y bol. Mae'n eithaf tebyg i'r Dylluan Glustiog, ond bod y plu hir o gwmpas y clustiau yn hirach yn y Dylluan Gorniog, ac mae ganddi lygaid oren, nid llygaid melyn fel y Dylluan Glustiog.
Nid yw'n aderyn cyffredin yng Nghymru, er fod nifer fychan o barau yn nythu. Efallai fod hyn i raddau oherwydd ei bod yn methu cystadlu a'r Dylluan Frech; yn Iwerddon lle na cheir y Dylluan Frech, mae'r Dylluan Gorniog yn llawer mwy niferus.
Kalous ušatý (Asio otus) je středně velký druh sovy z čeledi puštíkovitých hnědého a černého zbarvení s charakteristickým prodlouženým opeřením kolem ušních otvorů, díky kterému získal svůj název v mnoha světových jazycích.
V České republice se jedná o jednu z nejhojnějších a nejrozšířenějších sov vůbec. Jejím přirozeným biotopem jsou převážně řídce porostlé otevřené kulturní krajiny, přes den se často zdržuje v lesích. Obývá všechny kontinenty severní polokoule a izolovaně se vyskytuje také v Africe, na svém areálu rozšíření přitom tvoří celkem 4 poddruhy.
Je aktivní za soumraku a v noci, v zimě přes den se přitom často zdržuje v menších skupinách. V jeho potravě se nejčastěji objevují hlodavci, díky čemuž je považován za užitečného, ale požírá také jiné savce, menší druhy ptáků a hmyz. K hnízdění nejčastěji využívá opuštěná hnízda krkavcovitých ptáků, kam klade 3–7 světlých vajec.
Kalous ušatý náleží mezi středně velké druhy sov. Co do velikosti je srovnatelný s holubem domácím (Columba livia f. domestica) nebo s blízce příbuzným puštíkem obecným (Strix aluco), v porovnání s ním je však zřetelně štíhlejší. Délka jeho těla činí 35–40, průměrně tedy 38 cm a v rozpětí křídel měří 90–100 cm. Hmotnost se u samců pohybuje mezi 220–305 g, u samic pak mezi 260–435 g.[2]
Podobně jako všechny druhy sov má i kalous ušatý skvěle vyvinutý sluch a zrak, svou kořist dokáže dokonce lokalizovat i v naprosté tmě.[3] Významně mu přitom napomáhá asymetrické umístění ušních dutin, kdy levá je výrazně výše položená než ta pravá. Zajímavé je také to, že má zrak uzpůsobený k vidění na větší vzdálenosti, přičemž na blízko vidí špatně. Dalšími znaky typické pro většinu sov jsou ostré drápy na silných končetinách a ostrý zahnutý zobák.[4]
Je porostlý hustým, velmi měkkým peřím světle až tmavě hnědého zbarvení. Vrchní část těla je tmavší s různorodou kresbou, spodina těla je zase posetá množstvím černých podélných skvrn. Jeho charakteristickým znakem jsou dlouhá pera kolem uší, která však, ačkoli tak vypadají, nemají žádný podíl na lepší kvalitě sluchu. Nápadný je také jeho oválný tvar obličeje s dobře patrným bílým peřím v závoji kolem žlutočervených očí ve tvaru písmena X.
Obě pohlaví jsou si velmi podobná, samice jsou však na přední straně těla nepatrně tmavší, mláďata v prachovém šatě jsou celá světlá s tmavým opeřením kolem očí a mladí ptáci mají v porovnání s dospělci zase volnější peří.[5]
Létá velmi tiše. V letu se dá rozeznat od jiných sov podle silné hlavy, dlouhých úzkých křídel a pomalého mávání křídel, jeho dlouhá pera na hlavě však patrná nejsou, v letu je totiž drží přitisklé u hlavy.[5]
Ozývá se zřídkakdy, ale jeho hlas je většinou slyšitelný i na větší vzdálenost. Samci vydávají krátké, tlumené, pravidelně se několikrát za sebou opakující „hú“, samice se ozývají ještě méně než samci a jejich hlasový projev se podobá pískání na hřeben. Mláďata na hnízdě se pak potravy dožadují naříkavým, kolísavým, pískavým „puí“.[6][7]
Kalous ušatý je velmi rozšířenou sovou vyskytující se na všech kontinentech severní polokoule a izolovaně i na území severní Afriky. Obývá téměř celou Evropu, zcela zde chybí zejména v nejsevernějších oblastech, do Asie zasahuje v podobě širokého pruhu sahajícího od její západní části až po Japonsko, v Severní Americe je pak zastoupen na většině území Spojených států, na severu Mexika a také zejména na jihu Kanady. Vzhledem k značné rozloze není doposud známá velikost jeho areálu rozšíření, přesně vyčíslena není ani jeho globální početnost, je však předběžně odhadována zhruba na 1 500 000–5 000 000 jedinců. Počet hnízdících párů v Evropě, která představuje 25–49 % jeho globálního rozsahu, je pak odhadován na 380 000–810 000, tedy 1 140 000–2 430 000 jedinců.[8]
U jeho globální populace byl v poslední době zaznamenán patrný pokles, není však považován za nijak drastický, a proto je v Červeném seznamu IUCN stále řazen do kategorie málo dotčených druhů.[8] Nejčastějšími příčinami úmrtí tohoto druhu přitom bývají predátoři, ztráta přirozeného biotopu a nedostatek potravy, velmi často i kolize s vozidly.[2]
Kalousi ušatí jsou převážně stálí ptáci, severské populace však migrují, a to zejména na území Mexika, Indie, severní Afriky a jižní Evropy.[9]
Kalous ušatý přednostně obývá okraje lesů v blízkosti otevřených krajin s nízkou vegetací, jako jsou pole nebo louky, vyskytuje se také v močálech, větších parcích, houštinách a skupinách jehličnatých stromů. V zimě se často stahuje blíže k lidským obydlím a může být proto zaznamenán i ve městech.[5][10]
V České republice je kalous ušatý po celý rok široce rozšířen. Je také vůbec naší druhou nejhojnější sovou, hned po puštíku obecném; v ČR hnízdí v počtu 4 000–7 000 párů, a to až po nadmořskou výšku 1 000 m.[11] Přes zimu na naše území navíc zalétávají i ptáci ze severní a východní Evropy. Jeho populace je však v současné době zde podobně jako na území mnoha světových států na poklesu.[11] Kalouse ušatého chovají také některé zoologické zahrady v České republice, jako například Zoo Tábor, Zoo Děčín či Zoo Hluboká.
Kalous ušatý je velmi skrytě žijící pták s noční aktivitou (výjimku tvoří období, kdy migruje,[2] a období, kdy obstarává potravu pro mláďata). Den tráví většinou vysoko na stromech v těsné blízkosti kmene, kde je díky svému hnědému zbarvení a štíhlému tělu velmi těžce zpozorovatelný. Při přímém ohrožení se načepýří, čímž opticky zvětšuje svou velikost, syčí a klape zobákem. Toto obranné chování lze přitom pozorovat již i u mláďat v hnízdě. V zimě se často sdružuje do malých skupin, které přes den odpočívají v těsné blízkosti u sebe.[11]
Kalous ušatý se občas stává kořistí velkých dravců, jako jsou např. orli, jestřábi, sokoli (Falco peregrinus) a občas dokonce i jiných druhů sov, zejména pak výra virginského (Bubo virginianus). Pro vejce a mláďata v hnízdě pak představují největší hrozbu krkavcovití (Corvidae) a mývalové (Procyon lotor).[5]
Více než 90 %[10] veškeré potravy kalouse ušatého tvoří drobní hlodavci, nejčastěji hraboši, myšice, norníci, mladí potkani (Rattus norvegicus) a krysy. Dále jsou v jeho potravě zastoupeni i jiní malí savci, jako jsou např. veverky, mladí králíci, rejsci, čipmanci či krtci, ale své menšinové zastoupení zde mají i netopýři, ptáci až do velikosti kosa (Turdus merula) nebo špačka (Sturnus sp.) (ačkoli zde převládají malí pěvci, jako jsou vrabci (Passer sp.) nebo pěnkavovití (Fringillidae)),[10] hmyz (např. brouci) a obojživelníci (nejčastěji žáby). Na svou kořist přitom číhá z vyvýšeného místa a poté, co ji zaznamená, na ni velmi rychle útočí. Následně ji usmrcuje pomocí svých ostrých drápů a silného zobáku, a pokud je to možné, tak ji polyká celou najednou; pokud ne, odnáší ji ve svých drápech na vyvýšeného místo, kde ji postupně požírá.[9][12]
Nestravitelných zbytků, jako jsou např. kosti nebo srst, se následně zbavuje zhruba dvakrát za 24 hodin[13] v podobě 5,1 x 1,9 cm velkých[12], podélných, šedých chuchvalců známých jako vývržky. Tyto vývržky (tzv. plky) jsou nejen dobrým zdrojem informací o jeho hojnosti v různých lokalitách, ale také jde na základě nalezených zbytků v nich zjistit, jaká kořist je v jeho potravě v dané oblasti zastoupena nejpočetněji.
Pohlavně dospívá ve věku jednoho roku. Již v listopadu přitom začínají samci vyhledávat vhodné místo k zahnízdění. Při námluvách, které občas začínají již během ledna,[5] samec v těsné blízkosti hnízda ve vzduchu tleská křídly pod tělem a klape zobákem a snaží se tak upoutat pozornost samice. Během hnízdního období kalousi ušatí obhajují jen malé teritorium v těsné blízkosti hnízda, občas hnízdí i několik párů nedaleko od sebe. Jsou monogamní, byla u nich však pozorována již i polygamie.[5]
Hnízdí obvykle jednou, v případě velké hojnosti potravy i dvakrát ročně, a to v rozmezí od března do června. Vlastní hnízda téměř vždy nestaví, na místo toho využívá již opuštěná hnízda krkavcovitých ptáků (převážně vran, havranů a strak), ale i kání, veverek a volavek, zřídkakdy zahnízdí také v trhlině ve skále, v dutině stromu nebo na zemi.[9][10]
Samice klade obden 3–7 bílých, zakulacených, 40 x 32 mm velkých a 23 g těžkých (z toho 7 % tvoří skořápka)[14] vajec, na kterých sedí sama po dobu 27–28 dnů. Jelikož však začíná sedět již na prvním vejci, mezi mláďaty je následně dobře patrný věkový rozdíl. Během období, kdy samice provádí inkubaci, ji samec do hnízda nosí potravu a následně z velké části obstarává potravu i pro již vylíhlá mláďata, zatímco samice se obvykle nevzdaluje daleko od hnízda. V případě, že je v blízkosti hnízda predátor, výhrůžně syčí a načepýří peří nebo předvádí známou obrannou techniku, kdy předstírá neschopnost letu a predátora odláká do bezpečné vzdálenosti od vajec nebo mláďat. Ve věku 3–4 týdnů pomalu začínají mladí kalousi opouštět hnízdo a zdržují se na větvích v jeho blízkosti, po kterých dokáží šplhat také pomocí svého silného zobáku. Ve věku zhruba 5 týdnů jsou již vzletná a o 1–2 týdny později se plně osamostatňují.[5][10][14]
Kalous ušatý se ve volné přírodě dožívá průměrně 4 let,[14] v zajetí se však může dožít i více než 20 let.[5] Zatím nejstarší ve volné přírodě zaznamenaný jedinec pochází z Finska s věkem celých 17 let a 11 měsíců.[15]
Kalous ušatý je typickým zástupcem řádu sov (Strigiformes), čeledi puštíkovitých (Strigidae) a rodu Asio, kam řadíme celkem 7 druhů „ušatých“ sov. Jeho binomické jméno, Asio otus, které druhu přiřkl švédský přírodovědec Carl Linné roku 1758 ve svém díle Systema Naturae, je přitom odvozeno z řeckého asio, názvu použitého při popisu kalouse ušatého Pliniem starším, a otus, latinského výrazu pro sovu s výraznýma ušima.[14]
Dle fosilních záznamů se zde přitom vyskytoval již v období poslední doby ledové, tedy před 10 000–120 000 lety.[14] Byl přečten mitochondriální genom kalouse ušatého a pustovky;[16] na základě těchto a dalších dat se zatím jeví jako nepříbuznější kalousovi ušatému druh kalous páskovaný (Asio clamator), ale podpora je slabá a dat není mnoho.[17]
Tvoří celkem 4 poddruhy[14][18] (některé zdroje však uvádí poddruhů až šest, z toho poslední – Asio (otus) madagascariensis – bývá některými zoology považován za samostatný druh),[5] z toho 2 jsou zastoupeny na východní a 2 na západní polokouli (v ČR se vyskytuje první zmiňovaný):
V tomto článku byl použit překlad textu z článku Waldohreule na německé Wikipedii.
Obrázky, zvuky či videa k tématu kalous ušatý ve Wikimedia Commons
Galerie kalous ušatý ve Wikimedia CommonsKalous ušatý (Asio otus) je středně velký druh sovy z čeledi puštíkovitých hnědého a černého zbarvení s charakteristickým prodlouženým opeřením kolem ušních otvorů, díky kterému získal svůj název v mnoha světových jazycích.
V České republice se jedná o jednu z nejhojnějších a nejrozšířenějších sov vůbec. Jejím přirozeným biotopem jsou převážně řídce porostlé otevřené kulturní krajiny, přes den se často zdržuje v lesích. Obývá všechny kontinenty severní polokoule a izolovaně se vyskytuje také v Africe, na svém areálu rozšíření přitom tvoří celkem 4 poddruhy.
Je aktivní za soumraku a v noci, v zimě přes den se přitom často zdržuje v menších skupinách. V jeho potravě se nejčastěji objevují hlodavci, díky čemuž je považován za užitečného, ale požírá také jiné savce, menší druhy ptáků a hmyz. K hnízdění nejčastěji využívá opuštěná hnízda krkavcovitých ptáků, kam klade 3–7 světlých vajec.
Skovhornugle (Asio otus) har en højde på 35-37 centimeter og et vingefang på 84-95 centimeter.
Skovhornuglen har orangerøde øjne og lange fjerhorn.
Den er standfugl i store dele af Europa og trækfugl i det nordlige Skandinavien og Finland. I Danmark er det en ret almindelig ynglestandfugl og den kommer også som træk- og vintergæst.
Skovhornugle (Asio otus) har en højde på 35-37 centimeter og et vingefang på 84-95 centimeter.
Skovhornuglen har orangerøde øjne og lange fjerhorn.
Den er standfugl i store dele af Europa og trækfugl i det nordlige Skandinavien og Finland. I Danmark er det en ret almindelig ynglestandfugl og den kommer også som træk- og vintergæst.
Die Waldohreule (Asio otus) ist eine nachtaktive Greifvogelart, die zu den Eigentlichen Eulen (Strigidae) gehört. Sie zählt zur Gattung der Ohreulen und ist eine der häufigsten Eulen in Mitteleuropa. Die Namensgebung geht auf die beiden Federbüschel am Kopf zurück.[1]
Die Waldohreule hat mit einer Körperlänge von etwa 36 cm und einer Flügelspannweite von 95 cm etwa die Größe eines Waldkauzes bzw. der Schleiereule. Sie ist jedoch wesentlich schlanker als der Waldkauz und mit einem Gewicht von 220 bis 280 Gramm (Männchen) bzw. 250 bis 370 Gramm (Weibchen) erheblich leichter. Durch die auffallend großen Federohren und das marmorierte Gefieder, ähnelt die Waldohreule optisch dem deutlich größeren Uhu. Die Federohren haben keine Funktion im Zusammenhang mit der Hörleistung der Eule. Zur Verstärkung der Hörleistung dient vielmehr der bei der Waldohreule auffällige Gesichtsschleier, der Ähnlichkeit mit dem Schleier der Sumpfohreule aufweist.[2]
Die Iris der Waldohreule ist leuchtend orangegelb. Das Gesicht wird durch eine auffällig hervorstehende Stirnbefiederung geteilt. Die Flügel sind relativ schmal. Das Gefieder der Waldohreule ist auf hellbraunem bis ockergelbem Grund schwarzbraun gestrichelt und gefleckt. Die Hand- und Armschwingen sind deutlich dunkel quergebändert. Allgemein überwiegen bei den Weibchen dunkle, rostbraune Farbtöne. Die Männchen sind dagegen in ihrer Grundfärbung etwas heller. Die Färbung des Gefieders dient der Tarnung; ruhende Vögel im Geäst sind kaum zu entdecken. Die Augen werden durch ein oberes und ein unteres Augenlid sowie durch eine Nickhaut, die das Auge bedecken kann, geschützt.
Das Verbreitungsgebiet der Waldohreule umfasst die gesamte Holarktis. Es erstreckt sich von Großbritannien und Irland quer durch Eurasien einschließlich China und der Mongolei bis nach Japan und Sachalin. Die nördliche Verbreitungsgrenze liegt in der Zone des borealen Nadelwaldes. In Afrika kommt sie im Atlasgebirge sowie in den Bergwäldern Äthiopiens vor. Sie ist außerdem auf den Azoren sowie den Kanaren beheimatet. Die Waldohreule besiedelt auch das südliche Kanada und den nördlichen und mittleren Teil der USA.[3]
Im Verbreitungsgebiet werden derzeit fünf Unterarten unterschieden:
Waldohreulen sind in ganz Europa vornehmlich in lichten Wäldern mit offenen Flächen sowie in der Nähe von Feldern mit Feldgehölzen anzutreffen. Da sie Freiflächen für die Jagd benötigen, bevorzugen Waldohreulen offenes Gelände mit niedrigem Pflanzenwuchs.[2] Sie sind auch in Gebieten mit einem hohen Anteil an Dauergrünflächen sowie in der Nähe von Mooren zu finden. Selbst im Hochgebirge kommen sie vor, sofern dort genügend Beute vorhanden ist.
Wälder bieten der Waldohreule nur dann hinreichend Lebensraum, wenn es dort ausreichend Freiflächen für die Jagd gibt. Innere Bereiche dichter Wälder werden auch aufgrund der Konkurrenz durch den Waldkauz gemieden. Den Waldrand nutzt die Waldohreule dagegen als Ruheplatz während des Tages sowie als Brutrevier. Sie zieht dabei Nadelbäume vor, die ihr ausreichend Deckung bieten und in denen sich alte Nester von Krähen und Elstern befinden. Wo solche Waldränder fehlen, weicht sie auch in kleinere Gehölzgruppen oder Hecken aus. Die Waldohreule besiedelt auch Randbereiche von Städten, insbesondere wenn diese an landwirtschaftlich genutzte Bereiche oder halboffene Kulturlandschaften grenzen. Außerdem ist sie auf Friedhöfen sowie in Parkanlagen und Gärten anzutreffen.[3] Beobachtungen von Fachleuten der Berliner Ornithologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft (siehe Weblinks) legen nahe, dass Waldohreulen zunehmend auch in städtischen Gebieten anzutreffen sind.[4]
Die Waldohreule zeigt nur in der Umgebung des Brutplatzes ein Territorialverhalten. Das unmittelbare Brutrevier wird durch Gesänge und durch einen Imponierflug gekennzeichnet, bei dem die Waldohreule die Flügel unter dem Körper zusammenklatscht. Bei ausreichendem Nahrungsangebot können die Brutplätze der Waldohreulen sehr nahe beieinanderliegen. Auf einer 15 Quadratkilometer großen Fläche in Schleswig-Holstein, die offenbar ideale Lebensbedingungen bot, wurden 18 Brutnester nachgewiesen.
Im Winter finden sich gelegentlich Schlafgemeinschaften von Waldohreulen zusammen, die bis zu 200 Exemplare umfassen können und bei denen die Vögel nur einen geringen Individualabstand halten. Die dabei aufgesuchten Schlafbäume werden mitunter über viele Jahre hinweg genutzt. In Einzelfällen ist die Nutzung von bestimmten Schlafbäumen seit mehr als einhundert Jahren belegt. Im Winterquartier kann es auch zum Vergesellschaften mit anderen Eulenarten, insbesondere der Sumpfohreule (Asio flammeus), kommen. Die Waldohreule zeigt dabei keine Aggressionen gegenüber anderen Arten.
Während der Brutzeit ruft das Männchen in sekundenkurzem Abstand ein dumpfes und monotones „huh“. Dieser Ruf wird etwa alle zwei bis acht Sekunden wiederholt. Das Weibchen antwortet auf diese Rufe in ähnlich monotoner Weise mit „üüiü“ oder „uijo“. Während der Balz lässt das Weibchen auch ein an das Betteln der Jungeulen erinnerndes „chwää“ oder „chwän“ erklingen; vom Männchen ist insbesondere bei Beuteübergaben an das Weibchen ein kräftiges „chwü“ oder „chrööj“ zu hören.
Zu den Lautäußerungen gehören auch Fauchen und Schnabelknappen, die vor allem der Feindabwehr dienen. Das Repertoire an Alarmrufen ist sehr groß – der Alarmruf, den die Eulen von sich geben, wenn man sich beispielsweise dem Horst zu sehr nähert, ist ein bellendes oder kläffendes „uäk.uäk“ sowie ein miauendes „kjiiiiauu“.
Die Ästlinge der Waldohreule, wie die Jungeulen genannt werden, die zwar bereits das Nest verlassen haben, aber noch auf die Fütterung durch die Elternteile angewiesen sind, können über Stunden während der Nacht ein lautes Fiepen erklingen lassen. Es ist so auffallend, dass bei Bestandskontrollen von Waldohreulen gelegentlich systematisch diese Rufe registriert werden.
Die Waldohreule jagt während der Dämmerung und in der Nacht. Die Tagesstunden werden nur dann zur Jagd genutzt, wenn die Beute knapp ist (z. B. im Winter). Vor dem Jagdbeginn putzt die Waldohreule sich ausgiebig das Gefieder, jagt dann zwei bis drei Stunden und legt eine Ruhepause ein, die bis weit nach Mitternacht dauert. Anschließend jagt sie nochmals intensiv bis in die Morgendämmerung hinein. Mit diesem Aktivitätsmuster jagen die Eulen insgesamt etwa 5 bis 6 Stunden pro Tag intensiv. Der Flug ist geräuschlos. Der Suchflug erfolgt relativ dicht über dem Boden, wobei die Waldohreule ihre Beute optisch und akustisch ortet. Nimmt sie potentielle Beute wahr, verharrt sie im Rüttelflug und inspiziert die Lokalität, an der sie die Beute vermutet.
Die Ansitzjagd, bei der die Eule von einer Warte aus nach Mäusen lauscht, gehört gleichfalls zum Jagdverhalten der Waldohreule. Um Insekten zu jagen, begibt sie sich direkt auf den Boden und liest dort mit ihrem Schnabel die Wirbellosen auf. Um Maikäfer zu fangen, klettert sie geschickt durch das Geäst der Bäume.
Die Hauptbeute der Waldohreule sind Mäuse. Im Mittelmeergebiet sind es vorwiegend Echte Mäuse, die von der Waldohreule erjagt werden. In den übrigen Teilen Europas sind es überwiegend Wühlmäuse, wobei hier die Feldmaus (Microtus arvalis) überwiegt. Auch kleinere Singvogelarten zählen zum typischen Beutespektrum. Mit am häufigsten erbeutet werden Sperlinge und Grünlinge.
Waldohreulen werden gegen Ende ihres ersten Lebensjahres fortpflanzungsfähig und leben monogam in einer sogenannten Saisonehe. Die Paare bilden sich mitunter schon unter den Vögeln einer winterlichen Schlafgemeinschaft. Typischer ist es jedoch, dass das Männchen im zeitigen Frühjahr durch Paarungsrufe versucht, ein Weibchen in sein Revier zu locken.
Zur Balz zeigt das Männchen einen Imponierflug, bei dem die weißen Flügelunterseiten signalhaft präsentiert werden und bei dem die Flügel gelegentlich unter dem Körper zusammengeklatscht werden. Dieses Flügelklatschen zeigt auch das Weibchen während der Flugbalz in der Nähe zum potentiellen Brutplatz. Zur Anpaarungsphase und zur Balz gehört auch ein intensives Rufen, wie bereits im Absatz „Stimme“ beschrieben. Diese Rufe erklingen als Wechselgesänge.
Wie bei den anderen europäischen Eulen weist auch hier das Männchen mit leisen Rufen das Weibchen auf den potentiellen Nistplatz hin. Die Waldohreule unterscheidet sich jedoch von den anderen europäischen Arten durch einen spezifischen Bewegungsablauf, der so bei keiner anderen Art zu beobachten ist:
Die Waldohreule nistet bevorzugt in verlassenen Nestern von Rabenkrähen, aber auch von Elstern und Greifvögeln, da sie selbst kein Nestmaterial eintragen können. Bei der Auswahl des Nitzplatzes bevorzugten Waldohreulen insbesondere Rabenkrähennester, die sich in Fichten befanden.[5]
Auch Bodenbruten und Gebäudebruten sind für die Waldohreule belegt, sie stellen jedoch eine Ausnahme dar. Noch seltener sind Bruten an Felsen. Im Jahr 2017 wurde in der Schweiz die erste Felsbrut in Europa nachgewiesen. Sonst gab es Felsbruten bisher nur in Idaho, Kasachstan und den Kanarischen Inseln.[6]
Der Legebeginn für Waldohreulen liegt in Mitteleuropa normalerweise zwischen Ende Februar und Mitte April. Im Stadtgebiet Berlins konnten 2009 sogar bereits Ende März Ästlinge nachgewiesen werden, was allerdings eine Ausnahme darstellt.[4]
Das Weibchen brütet bereits ab dem ersten Ei und legt mit einem durchschnittlichen Legeabstand von zwei Tagen durchschnittlich vier bis sechs Eier. Ist aufgrund einer Mäusegradation das Beuteangebot sehr reichlich vorhanden, kann das Gelege ausnahmsweise auch bis zu acht Eier umfassen. Das Weibchen verlässt während der Brutphase und während der ersten Tage der Jungeulen nur für kurze Unterbrechungen die Nistmulde. Die Küken schlüpfen nach einer Brutdauer von 27 bis 28 Tagen und werden von dem Weibchen während ihrer ersten Tage intensiv gehudert. Das Weibchen schneidet aus der vom Männchen herangebrachten Beute kleine Stückchen und füttert sie den Jungeulen unter gluckenden Fütterungslauten. Sind die Nestlinge älter als vierzehn Tage, dann hockt das Weibchen tagsüber am Nistmuldenrand oder in nächster Nähe. Sowohl Männchen als auch Weibchen beteiligen sich an der Verteidigung der Brut. Erst wenn die Jungeulen das Nest verlassen und als Ästlinge in den Baumkronen hocken, beteiligt sich das Weibchen an der Beuteversorgung.
Die frisch geschlüpften Küken wiegen nur 16 Gramm; ihr feines dünnes Daunenkleid lässt jedoch bereits die später so auffälligen Federohren erkennen. Das Daunenkleid wird später durch ein hellbraunes Zwischenkleid ersetzt, bei dem die jungen Waldohreulen eine auffällige, schwarze Gesichtsmaske tragen. Die Jungeulen verlassen mitunter schon im Alter von drei Wochen die Nistmulde und klettern in die Baumkronen, wo sie in möglichst wenig einsehbarem Geäst verbleiben. Junge Waldohreulen sind geschickte Kletterer, die zum Klettern Krallen, Schnabel und Flügel einsetzen. Nach Einbruch der Dämmerung zeigen sie ihren Standort durch ein hohes „Zieeh“ an, das sie im Abstand von wenigen Sekunden wiederholen. Bereits im Alter von 10 Wochen können die Jungeulen in der Lage sein, selbständig Mäuse zu erjagen. Die Elternvögel füttern jedoch ihren Nachwuchs bis mindestens zur 11. Lebenswoche.
Selbständig gewordene Jungeulen legen auf der Suche nach neuen geeigneten Lebensräumen gelegentlich mehrere hundert Kilometer zurück. Aufgrund von Beringungsfunden konnte man nachweisen, dass Wanderungen aus mitteleuropäischem Gebiet bis nach Portugal vorkommen. Die bisher maximal belegte Wanderungsstrecke von Jungeulen beträgt 2.140 Kilometer. Typischer ist jedoch eine Wiederansiedelung in einem Radius von 50 bis 100 Kilometern um den Horst.
Die relativ kleine Waldohreule gehört zu den Beutetieren des Uhus. Auch größere Greifvogelarten jagen hin und wieder Waldohreulen. So werden insbesondere die in den offenen Horsten brütenden Weibchen häufig durch den Mäusebussard erbeutet. Auch Marder können vor allem den jungen, noch nicht flugfähigen Küken gefährlich werden.
Der Gefährdung durch Fressfeinde versuchen Waldohreulen vor allem durch ihre Tarnung zu entgehen, die ihre Gefiederfärbung bietet. Die brütenden Weibchen, die besonders gefährdet sind, ducken sich tief in ihre Nistmulde. Waldohreulen verfügen außerdem über ein Repertoire an Drohgebärden. Ähnlich wie ein Uhu in einer ausweglosen Situation fächert auch die Waldohreule ihre Flügel zu einem Flügelrad auf und vergrößert damit optisch ihr Erscheinungsbild. Gleichzeitig faucht sie laut und knappt mit dem Schnabel. Dieses Verhalten beherrschen bereits die jungen Ästlinge. Bei akuter Gefahr klettern diese meist in höhere Bereiche der Bäume. Werden sie bis dahin weiter verfolgt, springen sie gegebenenfalls sogar zu Boden.
Menschen und Beutegreifer, die sich dem Horst zu sehr annähern, werden gelegentlich durch das so genannte Verleiten abgelenkt. Hierbei täuscht die Eule dem Angreifer eine eingeschränkte Bewegungsfähigkeit vor, indem sie ihre Flügel schlaff herabhängen lässt. Dieses Verleiten geht so weit, dass sie sich unter lauten Alarmrufen flügelschlagend von einem Ast herabtrudeln lässt, um den potentiellen Angreifer vom Nest abzulenken.
Asio otus ist in der Regel ein Teilzieher: Waldohreulen, die normalerweise im nordöstlichen Verbreitungsgebiet des europäischen Kontinents leben, ziehen während des Winterhalbjahrs in Richtung Südwesten. Um den Winter besser zu überstehen, halten sich die Vögel bevorzugt im Umfeld von größeren Städten und Ortschaften auf. Hier findet sich auch in der kalten Jahreszeit noch genügend Nahrung. Waldohreulen, die in klimatisch begünstigten Regionen leben, verlassen ihr angestammtes Gebiet im Winter nicht.
Von den Jungeulen eines Jahres übersteht nur jede zweite ihr erstes Lebensjahr. In freier Natur lässt sich bisher aufgrund von Beringungsfunden ein Höchstalter von 28 Jahren nachweisen.
Der Bestand an Waldohreulen ist vor allem vom Nahrungsangebot, bzw. von der Kleinsäugerdichte abhängig. Haben die Mäuse (z. B. durch den Einsatz von Pestiziden) nur geringe Zuwachsraten, kommt es im Waldohreulenbestand zu erheblichen Schwankungen. Der Gesamtbestand wurde noch im Jahr 2003 vom IUCN auf etwa 120.000 Tiere geschätzt. Hochrechnungen, die auf neueren europäischen Zahlen beruhen, belaufen sich aber inzwischen auf 1,5 bis 5 Millionen Exemplare. Für Österreich und die Schweiz schätzt man, dass rund 2500 bis 3000 Brutpaare dort ihren Lebensraum haben, für Deutschland geht man von einem Bestand von 25.000 bis 41.000 Brutpaaren aus, der weitestgehend stabil ist.[2]
Anthropogene Faktoren, wie die intensivere Nutzung landwirtschaftlicher Flächen, insbesondere die Umwandlung von Grünland und die Beseitigung von Hecken und Feldrainen sind weitere Faktoren für einen Bestandsrückgang.[3]Ähnlich wie bei anderen mitteleuropäischen Eulenarten ist die wichtigste Schutzmaßnahme der Erhalt von strukturreichen, naturnahen Landschaften.
Insgesamt wird die Waldohreule von der IUCN als „nicht gefährdet“ („least concern“) eingestuft.
Noch nicht hinreichend untersucht ist die Frage, ob die Waldohreule in einigen ihrer Lebensräume durch den Waldkauz verdrängt werden kann. Untersuchungen in den Niederlanden zeigen, dass der Bestand der Waldohreulen zurückgeht, wenn die Anzahl der im Gebiet vorhandenen Waldkäuze ansteigt. Hierbei spielen sicherlich auch die Nahrungs- und die Brutplatzkonkurrenz eine Rolle.
Waldohreule im Größenvergleich mit Schleiereule, Elster, Rabe und Krähe
Waldohreule mit heller Gefiederfärbung in typischer „Pfahlstellung“
Mit halb geschlossenen Augen und gesenkten Federohren dösende Waldohreule, dunklere Gefiederfärbung
Jungtier im Geäst eines Weißdorns
Federn der Waldohreule
Junge Waldohreule
Waldohreule im Wildpark Lüneburger Heide
Waldohreule als Motiv einer Briefmarke aus Aserbaidschan
Die Waldohreule (Asio otus) ist eine nachtaktive Greifvogelart, die zu den Eigentlichen Eulen (Strigidae) gehört. Sie zählt zur Gattung der Ohreulen und ist eine der häufigsten Eulen in Mitteleuropa. Die Namensgebung geht auf die beiden Federbüschel am Kopf zurück.
Bealljeloađgu - julevsámegillii bielljeloavggo
Bealljeloađgu lea skulffiide gullevaš loddi, mii sulástahttá ollu litnu
De Hoarnûle (Asio Otus) is in 36 sm grutte ûle dy allinnich nachts aktyf is. Oerdeis sit er meast yn de beammen ferskûle. By winterdei siket er hjirta grien bliuwende beammen út, lykas as spjirren. De Hoarnûle is goed werkenber oan syn grutte earplûmen. Hjirtroch soe betizing mei de Oehoe ûntstean kinne mar dy ûle is in stik grutter.
De Hoarnûle brûkt foar it brieden meast nêsten fan de krie. Yn april oant maaie begjint it wyfke op sa'n 5-6 aaien te brieden. De aaien komme út nei sa'n 26 dagen. Lykas by de measte ûlen begjint it wyfke fuort by it earst leine aai te brieden. It gefolch dêrfan is dat de jongen yn it nêst net likegrut binne. De jongsten binne lytser en hawwe in lytsere kâns om út te fleanen as de âldsten.
The Hornit houlet (Asio otus) is a speshie o houlet that leeves in Europe, Asie, an North Americae.
The Hornit houlet (Asio otus) is a speshie o houlet that leeves in Europe, Asie, an North Americae.
Hou-hou o Houpeu ( Asio otus )
At hurnüül ((ha.), (mo.) hornööl) (Asio otus) as en fögel ütj at famile Kadüülen (Strigidae).
De katoele (Latien: Asio otus) is een grote oele, dee in heel Europa veurkump, behalven op Ieslaand. In aandere Nedersaksische dialekken as 't Veluws hef 't woord katoele soms disse betekenisse, mar verwiest 't soms ook naor de karkoele of naor oelen in 't algemeen (kiek ook bie Nedersaksisch hieronder).
Lengte: 35-37 cm
Spanwiedte: 84-95 cm
Gewichte: 210-330 g
Levensduur: 10-15 jaor
Opvallend an 't uterlijk van de katoele bin mit name zien oorplumen, dee overigens gien echte oren bin. Verwiering mit de oehoe, dee ook oorplumen hef, is meugelijk mar de oehoe is veule groter as de katoele.
Net as de meeste oelen is ook de katoele veural actief as 't duuster is. Dit in tegenstelling tot de veldoele, dee ook wel overdag actief is. De katoele jaagt op knaagdieren en rustende voegels.
De katoele kump veur in bosachtige gebieden mit naoldbomen en open terreinen. In de wienter verblieven katoelen grege in mekaars gezelschap. In der rusplaosen (naoldbomen, struken, wilde heggen) russen ze soms in grote groepen tot wel 100 exemplaren.
'En 's oams maakt de katoelen an de raand van de brink enkelt een oordiel net ofter iene vermoord wördt.'
Uut: Jan Poortman, De noabers harren 't negenongelok. In Rouke Broersma (2003), Scheupers van de taol: Bloemlezing van de Drèentse Schrieverij 1837-2003, Zuudwolde: Het Drentse Boek
De katoele (Latien: Asio otus) is een grote oele, dee in heel Europa veurkump, behalven op Ieslaand. In aandere Nedersaksische dialekken as 't Veluws hef 't woord katoele soms disse betekenisse, mar verwiest 't soms ook naor de karkoele of naor oelen in 't algemeen (kiek ook bie Nedersaksisch hieronder).
Kattúla (frøðiheiti - Asio otus) er størri enn lomvigi. Hon er sprøklut av gulum og dimmbrúnum. Eyguni eru gul og stór sum kettueygur. Tá ið tær lurta eftir onkrum, lyfta tær oyrnalokini langt upp, so tey verða lík oyrum á ferføttum dýri. Nevið er stutt sum kettusnýð, so í skortin eru tær ongum líkari enn kettu. Harafturat eru føturnir lodnir út á klørnar og meinlíkir kettulabbum. Um dagin situr hon onkustaðni, sum hon er samlitt við landið, og so ikki góð at fáa eyga á. Krákur eru ofta eftir henni, men so fim er hon at kasta sær í flognum, at tær fáa einki gjørt henni. Áður kom hon ikki so sjáldan til Føroyar, nú er langt ímillum, at hon sæst.[1]
Kattúla (frøðiheiti - Asio otus) er størri enn lomvigi. Hon er sprøklut av gulum og dimmbrúnum. Eyguni eru gul og stór sum kettueygur. Tá ið tær lurta eftir onkrum, lyfta tær oyrnalokini langt upp, so tey verða lík oyrum á ferføttum dýri. Nevið er stutt sum kettusnýð, so í skortin eru tær ongum líkari enn kettu. Harafturat eru føturnir lodnir út á klørnar og meinlíkir kettulabbum. Um dagin situr hon onkustaðni, sum hon er samlitt við landið, og so ikki góð at fáa eyga á. Krákur eru ofta eftir henni, men so fim er hon at kasta sær í flognum, at tær fáa einki gjørt henni. Áður kom hon ikki so sjáldan til Føroyar, nú er langt ímillum, at hon sæst.
Kundê şaxdar[2] , kundê pişîle an kundê guhdirêj (Asio otus), cureyekî kundan e ji cinsê Asio û ji famîleya kundan e (Strigidae).
Kundê şaxdar, kundekî guhbel e û dirêjiya wî 37 cm e. Li Kurdistanê bi tenê li herêma Kurdaxê-çiyayên Kurmênc (?) hene û dibe ku li daristanên bakur-rojhilata Kurdistanê jî bimînin. Dengê nêrê kundê şaxdar hûû-hû-hû ye.[3]
Kundê şaxdar, kojer, guhandar û balindeyên biçûk dixwe.
Kundê şaxdar li Rojhilata Navîn, Asya, Ewropa û bakur raojavayê Afrîka û Amerîkayê bakur tê dîtin.[4][5]
Çar binecureyên kundên şaxdar hatine nasîn:[6][5]
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|title= at position 9 (help) Kundê şaxdar , kundê pişîle an kundê guhdirêj (Asio otus), cureyekî kundan e ji cinsê Asio û ji famîleya kundan e (Strigidae).
D Nachtüüle oder Waldohrüüle (Asio otus; alemannischi Näme) isch e Vogelart, wo zu den Eigetlige Üüle (Strigidae) ghört. Sie isch eini vo de hüfigsten Üüle in Mitteleuropa. I de Schwiiz isch si hüüffiger im Jura und im Mittelland, weniger i de Alpe aaztreffe. Si chunnt bis z unere Hööchi vo 2400 müM vor.
Dr Körper vo dr Waldohrüüle werd öbbe 31 bis 37 cm groos und d Spannwiiti isch öbbe 84 bis 98 cm. D Männli si öbben e Viertel Kilo schwer, d Wiibli si e chli schwerer, bis 330 Gramm. Uf em Chopf hai s Fädere, wo wie Ohre usgsehn, aber nüt mit em Loose z due hai. D Auge si orange-gäl, d Fädere hellbruun bis ockergäl mit schwarzbruune Fläcke. D Männli si e chli heller as d Wiibli. Typisch för d Nachtüüle sind di groosse Federoore, wo si uufrichtet.
D Nachtüüle lebt i Wälder, chliine Wäldi uf de Felder, Pärk und Fridhööf. Zom Brüete bruuchts alti Nest vo Chraie, Ägerste und au vo Aichörnli. Dör de Tag hockt si uf eme Ast i de Nööchi vom Bommstamm, i de Ooberdämmerig und i de Nacht goot si uf d Jagt. D Waldohrüüle ernährt sich hauptsächlich vo Müüs, frisst aber au chliini Singvögel, Chäfer und anderi chliini Dier. Im Winter bildet sich chliini Gruppe mit bis zo 20 Nachtüüle.
D Nachtüüle oder Waldohrüüle (Asio otus; alemannischi Näme) isch e Vogelart, wo zu den Eigetlige Üüle (Strigidae) ghört. Sie isch eini vo de hüfigsten Üüle in Mitteleuropa. I de Schwiiz isch si hüüffiger im Jura und im Mittelland, weniger i de Alpe aaztreffe. Si chunnt bis z unere Hööchi vo 2400 müM vor.
(Asio otus) To je ôrt ptôcha z rodzëznë Strigidae. Òna je wiele wikszô òd klatati sowë, a żëje w lasach z grëbima drzéwiãtama i lubi jiglënowi lasë, kòl zelestrzów, pòlów ë łąków. Ta sowa w dzéń spi, a w nocë jachtuje. Òb wieczorë, czedë dnie są dłudżi, a noce krótczé mòżne ją czasem òbaczëc jak ona niskò zemi lôtô. Tedë òna mòże bëc głodnô abò mô pisklãta do wëkarmieniô. Òna mô wkół òczu pióra, ale do jachtowaniô òb noc barżi je ji pòtrzébny słëch. To co wëzdrzi jak ùszë, wcale nima nie je - to są pióra, chtërné zmieniają ji wëzdrzatk. W dzéń òn ùszati sowë sedzi na ùlubionym drzewie, krótkò pnia. Przez to cażkò gò je ùzdrzec. Jegò farwné piôra są wnetka taczé jak farwa pnia i cążkò gò òbaczëc òsoblëwie jak zamknie òczë. Mòcné drapce ptôcha mòckò chwëtają sã wietwi. Ta sowa mòże ùstawic dwa pôlce do przôdkù, a dwa do tëłu. Przë tim òna mòckò zacyskô drapce na wietwi ë chòc wieje mòcny wiater, nie spadnie, a mòże nawetka tak spac. Jachtuje na brzégach lasa ë na kùczewach, bò tam mòże chùtkò na zwierza trzasnąc. Òna nasłuchùje i ùzérô za môłima suskama (np. mëszama) i czasem ptôchama. Na zwierza spôdô z górë i chwëtô gò drapcama. Ta sowa colemało nie bùduje swòigò gniôzda. Òna niese 4-5 jôj w gniôzdach pò jinëch ptôchach (np. srokach). Ji wiôldżi òczë dobrze widzą przë môłim widze, ale do jachtowaniô òna ùżiwô swòjégò dobrégò słëchù. Sztiwné pióra kòl òczów i dzoba zbiérają fale zwãkòwé i czerują je do ùszów. Dzãka mòżnocë òbrocaniô głowë w kòżdą stronã, sowa mòże łatwò zlokalizowac òfiarã i chùtkò na nią trzasnąc, chòc je cemno.
Długòsc cała samiec mô kòle 35 cm, samica kòle 37 cm długòsc skrzidłów samiec kòle. 90-95 cm[3], samica kòle. 100 cm Wôga samiec ok. 260 g, samica ok. 280 g
Stonehouse Bernard, Francis John, Zwierzęta naszych lasów, Poznań 2009,s.28.
(Asio otus) To je ôrt ptôcha z rodzëznë Strigidae. Òna je wiele wikszô òd klatati sowë, a żëje w lasach z grëbima drzéwiãtama i lubi jiglënowi lasë, kòl zelestrzów, pòlów ë łąków. Ta sowa w dzéń spi, a w nocë jachtuje. Òb wieczorë, czedë dnie są dłudżi, a noce krótczé mòżne ją czasem òbaczëc jak ona niskò zemi lôtô. Tedë òna mòże bëc głodnô abò mô pisklãta do wëkarmieniô. Òna mô wkół òczu pióra, ale do jachtowaniô òb noc barżi je ji pòtrzébny słëch. To co wëzdrzi jak ùszë, wcale nima nie je - to są pióra, chtërné zmieniają ji wëzdrzatk. W dzéń òn ùszati sowë sedzi na ùlubionym drzewie, krótkò pnia. Przez to cażkò gò je ùzdrzec. Jegò farwné piôra są wnetka taczé jak farwa pnia i cążkò gò òbaczëc òsoblëwie jak zamknie òczë. Mòcné drapce ptôcha mòckò chwëtają sã wietwi. Ta sowa mòże ùstawic dwa pôlce do przôdkù, a dwa do tëłu. Przë tim òna mòckò zacyskô drapce na wietwi ë chòc wieje mòcny wiater, nie spadnie, a mòże nawetka tak spac. Jachtuje na brzégach lasa ë na kùczewach, bò tam mòże chùtkò na zwierza trzasnąc. Òna nasłuchùje i ùzérô za môłima suskama (np. mëszama) i czasem ptôchama. Na zwierza spôdô z górë i chwëtô gò drapcama. Ta sowa colemało nie bùduje swòigò gniôzda. Òna niese 4-5 jôj w gniôzdach pò jinëch ptôchach (np. srokach). Ji wiôldżi òczë dobrze widzą przë môłim widze, ale do jachtowaniô òna ùżiwô swòjégò dobrégò słëchù. Sztiwné pióra kòl òczów i dzoba zbiérają fale zwãkòwé i czerują je do ùszów. Dzãka mòżnocë òbrocaniô głowë w kòżdą stronã, sowa mòże łatwò zlokalizowac òfiarã i chùtkò na nią trzasnąc, chòc je cemno.
WimiarëDługòsc cała samiec mô kòle 35 cm, samica kòle 37 cm długòsc skrzidłów samiec kòle. 90-95 cm[3], samica kòle. 100 cm Wôga samiec ok. 260 g, samica ok. 280 g
Мэзжьынду (лат-бз. Asio otus) — кӀукӀумяу лъэпкъым щыщ лӀэужьыгъуэщ.
Теплъэр гъуэжьыфэщ, кусэ гъуабжэхэр къырехыу, щӀагъыр нэхъ тэхущ. Нэхэр, лъэбжьанэхэр — фӀыцӀэщ. ТхьэкӀумэ къыпфӀэщӀу щхьэщыгум цы Ӏэрамэ тӀурытӀ къыхопӀиикӀ. Щымыгъуазэм жьынду къыпфӀэщӀынущ, апхуэдизкӀэ абы ещхьщи, ауэ нэхъ цӀыкӀущ.
Щопсэу Еуропэмрэ Азиэмрэ я мэзхэм. Здэгъуалъхьэр мэзырщ — адрей къуалэбзухэм я абгъуэу щытахэм, жыг гъуанэхэм, щӀыгум деж. Абгъуэм тесыр анэращ. Адрей кӀукӀумяу лӀэужьыгъуэхэм къагуэкӀыу, мэзжьындухэр щӀымахуэм зэрыӀыгъщ.
Къаукъазым щыпсэухэр лъэтэжкъым, ауэ мэӀэпхъуэхэр. Апщыгъуэм ахэр унэ жыг хадэхэм щыплъагъунущ, зы гупым къуалэбзу 8-12 хыхьэу, ауэ зэрыкӀэлъыплъымкӀэ, жыгышхуэхэм, щхьэкӀэ Ӏувхэм я деж, уеблэмэ 30 щӀигъу щызэхуэс щыӀэщ, зэгъунэгъуу, зэгъусэу махуэр щагъакӀуэ. ЦӀыхум ахэр щыщынэкъым икӀи гъунэгъуу зырагъэплъ. Дыгъэр къухьа нэужькӀэ зэрызурэ дэкъикъэ 20-30 я зэхуакуу щакӀуэ мэлъатэ.
Мэзжьындухэм я бийхэр апхуэдэу куэд хъукъым. Нэхъ шынагъуэр жьындухэмрэ кӀукӀумяу гъуабжэхэмрэщ.
Ӏус нэхъыщхьэр дзыгъуэхэкӀщ.
Планинскиот був или ушестата улајка (науч. Asio otus), (порано: Strix otus) е вид утка која се размножува во Европа, (вклучувајќи ја и Македонија), Азија и Северна Америка. Овој вид е дел од поголемата група позната како „типични утки“, од фамилијата Strigidae, во која се сместени повеќето од утките. Другата група се „шталските утки“, фамилијата Tytonidae, како на пример, белата кукмјавка која се среќава во Македонија.
Планинскиот був е средно голема утка, со должина од 31 до 40 см, со распон на крилјата 86-100 см и тежина од 178 до 435 грама.[2][3] Има темни кренати китчести ушни школки, кои се наоѓаат во центарот на главата. Ги користи за да им изгледа поголем на другите утки кога се перчи. Женките се поголеми и потемни од мажјаците. Кафеавкастите пердуви му се вертикално прошарани. И нозете и прстите му се со пердуви. Очните дупки и на оваа утка се карактеристични, тие се темни или циглапортокалови. Оваа ноќна птица можеби најлесно може да се види како се перчи на некое дрво преку ден, понекогаш и во помали групи во текот на зимските месеци.
Речиси низ целата своја распространетост, планинскиот був се преклопува во опсегот со сличниот на него блатен був. Покрај другото, најлесно за разликување на овие два вида се ушите на планинскиот був кои се испрчени, но понекогаш тој може да ги држи собрани, право на главата. Има разлики и во боите на очите, жолти му се на блатниот, а портокалови на планинскиот, а црното околу очите е вертикално кај планинскиот, а хоризонтално кај блатниот. Општо земено, блатниот був е малку посветол, попесочен од планинскиот. Има и голем број други работи по кои се разликуваат овие две птици, но се гледаат кога тие летаат:
Сезоната на парење на планинскиот був е од февруари до јули. Оваа птица е делумно преселница, односно на југ мигрираат само оние кои живеат понасевер. Нејзиното живеалиште се шумите во близина на отворените простори.
Гнездото е на дрво, и често користи веќе употребено гнездо од други видови, како врани, гаврани, страчки и разни јастреби. Леглото обично содржи 4-6 јајца, а инкубацијата трае од 25 до 30 дена. Користи и вештачки кошници како гнездо. Необична карактеристика на овој вид се заедничките седала во грмушките во текот на зимските месеци. Оваа птица лови на отворено преку ноќ. Таа има многу долги крилја и лебди полека со вкочанети крилја кога лови. Се храни претежно со глодари, мали цицачи и птици. Во Европа се соочува со конкуренција од страна на планинската улулајка и е најбрoјна каде нејзе ја нема.
Планинскиот був или ушестата улајка (науч. Asio otus), (порано: Strix otus) е вид утка која се размножува во Европа, (вклучувајќи ја и Македонија), Азија и Северна Америка. Овој вид е дел од поголемата група позната како „типични утки“, од фамилијата Strigidae, во која се сместени повеќето од утките. Другата група се „шталските утки“, фамилијата Tytonidae, како на пример, белата кукмјавка која се среќава во Македонија.
Соотон гуйванга - Asio otus (урьд: Stix otus) нь Европ, Ази, Хойд Америкт амьдрах Уулийнхан овгийн нэг зүйл шувуу юм.
Энэхүү гуйванга нь дундаж хэмжээний, 31-37 см, далавчаа дэлгэсэн урт 86-98 см байна. Толгойн орой төв хэсэгт хардуу босоо чихний туг өдтэй ба бусад шар шувуунаас том харагдуулах аж. Эмэгчин нь илүү биеэр том ба арай бараан зүстэй. Соотон гуйвангын бордуу өд сөд нь хөндлөн судалтай, мөн хөлийн хуруу нь өд сөдөөр бүрхэгдсэн байдаг.
Тэд задгай талбайн дэргэдэх ой модонд амьдрах ба сэрүүн бүсийн зарим нь өвлийн улиралд өмнө зүгт нүүн шилждэг.
2-7 сар үржлийн үе бөгөөд голдуу шилмүүст модонд бусад шувуудын хуучин үүрэнд үүрлэнэ. Дундажаар 4-6 өндөг гаргаж 25-30 хоног дарна. Соотон гуйванга шөнийн цагт анд гарах ба ойр төстэй шар шувуу болох Хулгар гуйвангатай адил урт далавчтай юм. Тэдний гол идэш тэжээл нь мэрэгч, жижиг хөхтөн болон шувууд болно.
Соотон гуйванга - Asio otus (урьд: Stix otus) нь Европ, Ази, Хойд Америкт амьдрах Уулийнхан овгийн нэг зүйл шувуу юм.
Ухан (Asio otus) є середнё великый вид совы з родины сововых бурой і чорной фарбы з характерістічным продовженым пірём коло уха, дякуючі тому здобыв свою назву в много світовых языках.
Ёго природным біотопом суть переважно рїдко зароснуты одкрыты културны країны, через день ся стримує часто в лїсах. Обывать вшыткы контіненты северной півкулї і ізолованы ся находить тыж в Африцї, в своїм ареалї росшырїня притім творить цїлком 4 підвиды.
Є актівный як ся тміть і в ночі, в зимі через день ся притім часто стримує в меншых ґрупах. В ёго страві ся найчастїше обявують мышы, дякуючі чому є браный за хосенного, але жере тыж і другых ссавцїв, меншы виды птахів і хроабкы. Про гнїздїня найчастїше хоснує опущены гнїзда іншых птахів, де кладе 3-7 світлых яєць.
Ухан належыть міджі середнё великы виды сов. Што ся тыче великости є зрівнательный з домашнїм голубом (Columba livia f. domestica) або з близкым лелитом (Strix aluco), в порівнаню з ним є але явно тоншый. Довжка ёго тїла чінить 35–40, середнё 38 цм і в роспятю крыл мірять 90-100цм. Вага самцїв колыше міджі 220-305ґ, саміцї мають міджі 260–435 ґ.
Подобно як вшыткы виды сов мать і ухан выїмково вывинутый слух і зрак і свою жертву годен докінце локалізовати в найвекшій тмі. Вызначно му притім помагать асіметрічне уміщіня уховых дутин, коли лїва є выразно высше положена як тота права. Інтересне є тыж то, же зрак мать приспособленый на виджіня на векшы оддалености, причім на близко видить плано, Далшыма ознаками тіпічныма про векшыну сов суть остры пазуры на міцных ногах і острый огнутый дзёбак.
Зароснутый є богатым, дуже мягкым пірём світлой аж тмаво бурой фарбы. Верьхня часть тїла є притім тмавша з вшелияков кресбов, спід тїла є зясь посіяна множеством чорных поздовжных фляків. Ёго характерістічным ознаком суть довгы піря коло ух, котры хоць правда так вызерають, не мають жаден ефект на квалітї слуху. Выразный є тыж ёго поздовжна форма тварї з добрї видительным білым пірём в завою коло жовточервеных оч у формі буквы Х.
Обі поглавя суть собі дуже подобны, саміцї суть але на переднїй сторонї невыразно тмавшы, молодята в пороховім шатї суть зясь цїлы світлы з тмавым пірём коло оч і молоды птахы мають в зрівнаню з дорослыма вольнїше піря.
Лїтать дуже тихо. Під час лїтаня ся дасть розознати од другых сов по силній голові, довгых узкых крыл і помалого маханя крылами, ёго довгы пірка на голові але явны не суть, як лїтать, тримать їх притиснуты на голову.
Ухан (Asio otus) є середнё великый вид совы з родины сововых бурой і чорной фарбы з характерістічным продовженым пірём коло уха, дякуючі тому здобыв свою назву в много світовых языках.
Ёго природным біотопом суть переважно рїдко зароснуты одкрыты културны країны, через день ся стримує часто в лїсах. Обывать вшыткы контіненты северной півкулї і ізолованы ся находить тыж в Африцї, в своїм ареалї росшырїня притім творить цїлком 4 підвиды.
Є актівный як ся тміть і в ночі, в зимі через день ся притім часто стримує в меншых ґрупах. В ёго страві ся найчастїше обявують мышы, дякуючі чому є браный за хосенного, але жере тыж і другых ссавцїв, меншы виды птахів і хроабкы. Про гнїздїня найчастїше хоснує опущены гнїзда іншых птахів, де кладе 3-7 світлых яєць.
Хăлхаллă тăмана (чуппа тăмана) (лат. Asio otus) - куракран пĕчĕкрех кайăк. Çăмартисем (4-6) шурă. Лăсăллă вăрмансенче пурăнать. Çăмарта тума курак йăвисене йышăнать. Апатланма вăрман хĕррисене, улăхсемпе çарансене вĕçсе каять. Ăна уйра ларакан йывăç, юпа çинче асăрхама пулать. Шăши йышши чĕрчунсемпе кăна аптланса пурнать. Хĕллехи вăхăтра та вĕсем урăх апат çисех каймаççĕ.
Хĕл каçма ниçта та вĕçмеççĕ. Йышĕ пысăках мар пулин те, ăна , вăл çынран хăраман пирки, час-часах курма пулать.
Хăлхаллă тăмана (чуппа тăмана) (лат. Asio otus) - куракран пĕчĕкрех кайăк. Çăмартисем (4-6) шурă. Лăсăллă вăрмансенче пурăнать. Çăмарта тума курак йăвисене йышăнать. Апатланма вăрман хĕррисене, улăхсемпе çарансене вĕçсе каять. Ăна уйра ларакан йывăç, юпа çинче асăрхама пулать. Шăши йышши чĕрчунсемпе кăна аптланса пурнать. Хĕллехи вăхăтра та вĕсем урăх апат çисех каймаççĕ.
Хĕл каçма ниçта та вĕçмеççĕ. Йышĕ пысăках мар пулин те, ăна , вăл çынран хăраман пирки, час-часах курма пулать.
Өкө ябалағы, ҡолаҡлы ябалаҡ, бесәй башлы ябалаҡ, япалаҡ рус. ушастая сова
Ҙурлығы ҡарғалай. Осоп барған ҡоштоң киң һәм оҙон ҡанаттары, ҡыҫҡа ҡойроғо күҙгә ташлаңа. Дөйөм төҫө ерән-һоро, буй-буй ҡара таптар менән сыбарланған. Башында, ҡолаҡтары бар. Өкөнән бәләкәй, һыҙғыр аҡ ябалаҡтан ҙурыраҡ булыуы менән айырыла.
Тауышы тоноҡ һәм тупаҫ: «ху-хуу».
Ҡуйы урмандарҙа йәшәй. Сысҡандар менән туҡлана. Ултыраҡ тшщ. Аҙыҡ эҙләп, бер урындан икенсе урынға күсеп тә йөрөй. Киң генә таралған. Ағас башында, һирәкләп ағас ҡыуышында оялай. 4—5 бөртөк аҡ йомортҡаһы була. Зарарлы кимереүселәрҙе ҡырып, ҙур файҙа килтерә.
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Өкө ябалағы, ҡолаҡлы ябалаҡ, бесәй башлы ябалаҡ, япалаҡ рус. ушастая сова
लामकाने लाटोकोसेरो नेपालमा पाइने एक प्रकारको चराको नाम हो । यसलार्इ अंग्रेजीमा "लङ-इयर्ड आउल" (Long-eared Owl) भनिन्छ ।
लामकाने लाटोकोसेरो नेपालमा पाइने एक प्रकारको चराको नाम हो । यसलार्इ अंग्रेजीमा "लङ-इयर्ड आउल" (Long-eared Owl) भनिन्छ ।
The long-eared owl (Asio otus), also known as the northern long-eared owl[3] or, more informally, as the lesser horned owl or cat owl,[4] is a medium-sized species of owl with an extensive breeding range. The scientific name is from Latin. The genus name Asio is a type of eared owl, and otus also refers to a small, eared owl.[5] The species breeds in many areas through Europe and the Palearctic, as well as in North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, of the family Strigidae, which contains most extant species of owl (while the other taxonomic family of owls are the barn owls, or Tytonidae).[6][7][8]
This owl shows a partiality for semi-open habitats, particularly woodland edge, as they prefer to roost and nest within dense stands of wood but prefer to hunt over open ground.[8][9] The long-eared owl is a somewhat specialized predator, focusing its diet almost entirely on small rodents, especially voles, which quite often compose most of their diet.[4][8] Under some circumstances, such as population cycles of their regular prey, arid or insular regional habitats or urbanization, this species can adapt fairly well to a diversity of prey, including birds and insects.[4][10][11][12] All owls do not build their own nests. In the case of the long-eared owl, it generally utilizes nests that are built by other animals, with a partiality in many regions for those built by corvids.[13][14] Breeding success in this species is largely correlated with prey populations and predation risks.[4][13][14] Unlike many owls, long-eared owls are not strongly territorial or sedentary. They are partially migratory and, although owls appear to generally use the same migratory routes and wintering sites annually, can tend to appear so erratically that they are sometimes characterized as “nomadic”.[15] Another fairly unique characteristic of this species is its partiality for regular roosts that are often shared by a number of long-eared owls at once.[16][17] The long-eared owl is one of the most widely distributed and most numerous owl species in the world, and due to its very broad range and numbers it is considered a least concern species by the IUCN. Nonetheless, strong declines have been detected for this owl in several parts of its range.[1][18]
The long-eared owl was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Strix otus.[19] This owl is now assigned to the genus Asio that was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.[20][21]
Owls in the genus Asio are sometimes commonly referred to as eared owls. Despite their extensive distribution, only eight modern species are thought to exist. Four species are found both in Eurasia and Africa, and in the Americas, including the long-eared owl and short-eared owl.[21][22] Despite similarities and being considered as in the same genus, it was found in a study utilizing electrophoresis that the genetic distance between long-eared owls and short-eared owls was unusually large for species within the same genera.[23] Notwithstanding fossil records of Asio species showing their presence during prehistory in locations like Kansas and Idaho (Asio brevipes) and California (Asio priscus), the exact area of evolutionary origin of the long-eared owl is unknown and unlikely to ever be known.[4][24] At least three modern species represent related derivations, possibly with long-eared owls as the paraspecies or as part of a species complex that potentially bears a basal common ancestor.[8][22][23] In all three cases, the related owls are obviously more tropical in distribution and adapted to more humid conditions, with darker plumage, and larger bodies with apparently stronger feet and more overdeveloped talons, possibly exploiting a relatively unoccupied ecological niche against competing owls.[8][22] One of these three is the Stygian owl, which is the darkest derivation of all and readily known to be distinct for some time.[4][6][8] The other two slightly larger, tropical species, possibly housed in a species complex with the long-eared owl, were at one time considered to be part of the long-eared owl species. One of these is the Madagascar owl (Asio madagascariensis), obviously endemic to the island of its name, while the other is the Abyssinian owl (Asio abyssinicus), native to east Africa, especially in the northern area such as Ethiopia.[6][21][25][26][27] While the marsh owl of Africa is outwardly very similar to and likely closely related to the short-eared owl, the striped owl (Asio clamator) is somewhat of an outlier among living Asio species and of mysterious origin. Despite being genetically related to the other living Asio species, it does not appear to be a close cousin.[8][22][23] Studies of the mitochondrial genome found that the Asio genus, and consequently the long-eared owl, diverged most recently among living owl groups from the Otus or scops owl genus, with a more distant branch division from the Strix genus.[28] A study of the genetic homogeny of long-eared owls in a single roost site was shown to be slightly higher than between different roosts. However, this homogeny is relatively low for a communal roosting bird in general.[29]
Four subspecies of the long-eared owl are recognised:[21][30][31]
This species is a rather slim and long winged owl with usually prominent erectile ear tufts, which are positioned closer to the center of the head than in many other types of owl. The purposes of ear tufts are not definitively known and are present in about half of living owls.[4] Arguably the most popular theory amongst biologists and ornithologists is that ear tufts could be a means of intraspecies communication of intent and mood.[35] In general coloration, the long-eared owl is often considered a hue of ochraceous-tawny with a grayish or brownish wash variably manifesting. The base color is commonly overlaid with variable blackish vertical streaks (and occasionally spots), which are usually more apparent about the wings and back. The scapulars are usually marked whitish, which provide further contrast when seen against the base color and blackish markings. The wing's dark carpal patches can also display broad panels of buff or almost orange on the wings across the base of primaries, which represent a more richly emphasized version of a pattern shared with other owls that tend to be vole-hunting specialists, like short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) and great gray owl (Strix nebulosa). On the underside, the body tends to be a somewhat paler ochraceous-tawny compared to the upperside. Long-eared owls tend to have dusky streaks on the upper breast, below which they may be heavily marked with herring bone pattern (which is created by dusky shaft-streaks and crossbars on these feathers).[3][4][8][9][36] There is much individual and regional variation in markings with owls dwelling in more extensively forested regions tending to be of a darker hue, often so densely washed above as to appear largely dusky brown on the back and the underside largely overlaid with bolder dusky-blackish marks. Meanwhile, in some desert-like regions, the plumage may tend towards a somewhat more washed out look, at times appearing fairly cream or yellowish, with sparser and lighter dusky markings overall.[4][37] The facial disc is visibly well developed and variably colored (see subspecies) in the species, rimmed dusky often with white running down along the center through the bill, while at times the white lines form a “moustache” and/or extending to the inside of the facial disc rim. The ear tufts are usually dusky in front and paler tawny on the back. Long-eared owl possess a blackish bill color while its eyes may vary from yellowish-orange to orange-red, tarsi and toes feathered.[4][8][36]
The long-eared owl is a medium-sized owl, which measures between 31 and 40 cm (12 and 16 in) in total length.[37][38] Their wingspan is relatively large for their size, measuring 86 to 102 cm (2 ft 10 in to 3 ft 4 in).[39][40] However, compared to other widespread owls considered of medium size and to which they can appear broadly similar in size, such as barn owl (Tyto alba), short-eared owls and tawny owls (Strix aluco), the long-eared owl is quite a bit lighter and slenderer bodied, with mature weights around half of those of tawny owls not being uncommon.[4][41][42] As expected in owls and birds of prey in general, long-eared owls display reverse sexual dimorphism in which females are usually slightly larger than males (to the contrary of most non-raptorial birds). Males furthermore may tend to be somewhat paler in plumage than females.[9][41][42] In Finland, one survey of the body mass of mature birds found that 22 males averaged 288 g (10.2 oz) while 20 females averaged 327 g (11.5 oz).[9][37] In body mass, European long-eared owls per a study were shown to run contrary to Bergmann's rule (that widespread animals should be smaller closer to the Equator) as body mass seemed to increase further south, being lightest in Sweden, where 37 males averaged 197 g (6.9 oz) and 24 females averaged 225 g (7.9 oz), intermediate in Denmark and heaviest in the Netherlands, where 21 males averaged 256 g (9.0 oz) and 24 females averaged 308 g (10.9 oz).[43] In migratory owls largely from Scandinavian summer grounds in England, the average weight of 8 males was 263.6 g (9.30 oz) and the average of 28 females was 294.7 g (10.40 oz).[44] Meanwhile, in various studies in North America, 38 males (in Montana) were found to average 245.3 g (8.65 oz), 55 males (also Montana in a different study) to average 261 g (9.2 oz) and 15 males (from Idaho) 232 g (8.2 oz). From the same studies, respectively, 28 females averaged 279.4 g (9.86 oz), 49 females averaged 337 g (11.9 oz) and 19 females averaged 288 g (10.2 oz).[41][42][32][45] Museum specimens in North America were found to average 245 g (8.6 oz) in 38 males and 279 g (9.8 oz) in 28 females, while 520 migrating adults in Duluth, Minnesota averaged 281.1 g (9.92 oz).[32][46] In all, long-eared owl males may vary in weight from 160 to 330 g (5.6 to 11.6 oz) while females may vary from 180 to 435 g (6.3 to 15.3 oz).[9][43][32]
In standard measurements, long-eared owls vary in wing chord length from 262 to 315 mm (10.3 to 12.4 in) in males, with 883 in North America averaging 285.1 mm (11.22 in), and 255 to 332 mm (10.0 to 13.1 in) in females, with 520 American ones averaging 286.2 mm (11.27 in). The tail may measure 121.5 to 161 mm (4.78 to 6.34 in) in males and 143.5 to 165 mm (5.65 to 6.50 in) in females, with 1,408 owls averaging 146.3 mm (5.76 in).[8][9][32][47] Less widely measured are bill length, which averaged 15.7 mm (0.62 in) in males and 16.2 mm (0.64 in) in females from North America, and tarsus length, which averaged 38.2 mm (1.50 in) in 20 males and 39.9 mm (1.57 in) for 16 females from Europe, with a range in both sexes of 36.9 to 42.3 mm (1.45 to 1.67 in).[46][48][49] In terms of their skeletal structure, it bears a relatively wide skull but relatively small eyes and orbits, while the beak is relatively elongated but weak.[4][47] The legs are relatively long and thin and, while needle-sharp, the talons are relatively fine and the feet relatively weak for an owl. However, the talons are still highly proficient at drawing blood if contact is made with human skin.[4][47][50][51]
If seen well, an experienced observer is usually able to distinguish a long-eared owl by combination of its field marks, size and coloration. However, some potential owl species may be confused for them. The Stygian owl (Asio stygius) (which barely overlaps, perhaps in northern Mexico) is larger with partially bare toes and generally darker with inky and more boldly patterned plumage, with often nearly the enter facial mask appearing off-black.[8][52] Tawny owls, which co-exist with long-eared owls in Eurasia, are unlikely to be mistaken given that they usually appear considerably rounder and bulkier overall (and are indeed slightly larger and much heavier), and possess a much broader, more rounded head. The tawny owl has no ear-tufts, eyes of blackish-brown colour and relatively shorter wings. In flight, tawny owls show well-fingered primaries (with five apparent emarginations) unlike the squared off wings of the long-eared owl.[8][37][53] The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is far larger and more massive than a long-eared owl with visibly more overdeveloped and powerful-looking feet and talons and a huge squared-off-looking head with the ear-tufts set nearer to the edge. The eagle-owl is often more heavily patterned on the crown and back with heavy blackish marking but has a less strongly demarcated (and shallower) facial disc when compared to the long-eared owl.[8][37] In some parts of the wintering range, other eagle-owls may scarcely abut the wide range of long-eared owls in Eurasia (and perhaps northwestern Africa) but are usually distinguishable (similarly as in the Eurasian species) by size differences, plumage characteristics and, occasionally, habitat preferences.[6] Asian fish owls, which are essentially a subset of eagle-owls, are generally also much larger than long-eared owls with tousled-looking ear-tufts, less variable coloring and often feathered over only part of their tarsi.[8] In North America, great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), yet another type of eagle-owl in all but name, have a squarish head and more widely separated ear-tufts. Like other Bubo species, great horned owls are also perceptibly larger and more massively built than any long-eared owl (despite being smaller than the Eurasian eagle-owl). Great horned owls also have typically heavily barred, rather than streaked, underparts.[8][9] Scops and screech owls are much smaller than long-eared owls, as well as differently marked (often with more individually varying overall coloring, i.e. from gray to brown to rufous) and usually having rather short ear-tufts.[8] The Marsh owl (Asio capensis) (rare overlap, perhaps in northern Morocco) is generally brown with quite different-looking fine mottling or barring below and has brown eyes and tiny ear-tufts.[8]
Over much of its range, long-eared owls occur with the related short-eared owl, the latter species averaging slightly larger. Much has been written about distinguishing them in the field, though, if seen well, the resemblance between the species is not particularly strong. Furthermore, the two species differ in habitat preferences, with the short-eared owl often favoring (where available) any kind of entirely treeless, open habitats (including many wetlands and Arctic tundra as well as steppe, prairie and extensive meadows), often avoiding the edge habitats favored by the long-eared owl.[4][8][53] However, in dim light, at a distance or in flight, confusion is certainly possible.[53][54] In both long-eared and short-eared owls, the flight style when seen has a distinctive, erratic and buoyant flapping quality that many birdwatchers consider reminiscent of a moth.[55] At rest, the ear-tufts of the long-eared owl serve to easily distinguish the two (although long-eared owls can sometimes hold their ear-tufts lax). The iris-colour differs: yellow in short-eared, and often orange in long-eared. Furthermore, the black surrounding the eyes is vertical and slight on the long-eared, and horizontal and far more conspicuous on the short-eared. Overall, the short-eared owl tends to be a paler, sandier-looking bird than the long-eared, lacking the darker and more extensive markings of the latter.[8][53][54] There are a number of other ways in which the two species differ which are best seen when they are flying. Short-eared owls often have a broad white band along the rear edge of the wing, which is not shown by long-eared owls. On the upperwing, the short-eared owl's primary-patches are usually paler and more obvious. The band on the upper side of the short-eared owl's tail is usually bolder than that of the long-eared. The short-eared's innermost secondaries are often dark-marked, contrasting with the rest of the underwing. The long-eared owl has streaking throughout its underparts, whereas on the short-eared the streaking ends at the breast. The dark markings on the underside of the tips of the longest primaries are bolder on short-eared owls. The upperparts of short-eared owls are coarsely blotched, whereas on the long-eared they are more finely marked. The short-eared owl also differs structurally from the long-eared, having longer, slimmer wings. The shorter and broader wings in combination with a squarer tail in long-eared owls produce proportions more reminiscent of a buzzard than the short-eared owl.[8][9][36][53][54][56][57] When studied by their osteological features, however, the long-eared and short-eared owls are difficult to distinguish.[58]
The long-eared owl has relatively large ear slits placed asymmetrically on the sides of its head, as in a majority of owls, with the left ear higher and right lower in order to allow them to absorb sound both from above and below.[4][59] The ear slit very nearly occupy the full height of the skull, being are about 38 mm (1.5 in), long and covered in movable skin flaps.[4][60][61] The right ear is about 13% larger based on freshly dead owls.[4][59][62] Due to its ear structure, the hearing of a long-eared owl is around ten times better at hearing high and medium pitches than humans.[63] Barn owls and boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) have (via convergent evolution) roughly similar ear structures, with the relative size of the ear structure and facial disc in owls generally indicative of the level of importance of acute hearing to their life history. Owls with relatively smaller ear slits and shallower or vestigial facial discs tend to skew towards more crepuscular or partially diurnal behaviors, whereas owls such as long-eared owls are more or less entirely nocturnal. It is well known that a majority of owls can hunt in darkness due to their extraordinary hearing, which allows them to pinpoint locations of prey, but they can also utilize their hearing to track intraspecific calls and activities and avoid predation risks.[4][62][63]
The vocalizations of this species are highly variable. Amongst owls of all ages, long-eared owls in Michigan were recorded to have made 23 different vocalizations. Karel Voous considered them to likely be the most diverse vocalists of all owl species in the Northern hemisphere.[4][64] The song of the male long-eared owl is a deep whoop, which is repeated at intervals of several seconds. It starts with some hoots at slightly lower pitch before reaching full volume and quality. On calm nights, this song may carry over up to 1 to 2 km (0.62 to 1.24 mi) away (at least to human auditory perception). The song of the male is around 400 hertz.[8][9] In North America, some observers have considered the male's song as analogous to the deep cooing of band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata).[4] Females gives a weaker, less clear and much higher pitched song with a nasal quality. In nearly all owl species, the females, despite being typically the larger sex, have smaller syrinx than the males and so tend to have less powerful voices.[4][8][61] The call of the female is at times compared to a weak tin whistle and is only audible at close range, being about 4-5 halftones higher than the song of the male.[4][8] Females usually call only in duet with male during courtship, but also when the nest is selected and around the beginning of incubation (probably in conjunction with food-begging). In fact, close study has revealed that female calling may occur as frequently as every 2–8 seconds at times of night between nest selection and egg laying.[8][9][60][64] Both sexes utter a cat-like, somewhat hoarse jaiow notes or high yip-yip notes, the latter reminiscent of a call made by barn owls. When disturbed near the nest holding young, both parents may utter a series of tinny tones, watt-watt-watt-watt.[4][8][36] During the period of courtship the male flies around and flaps its wing around, producing a clapping sound. During the display flight, the male may make as many as 20 claps.[8][36] As with many owls, all ages may produce hissing sounds and bill snapping when they feel threatened, especially in the context of nesting.[8][36][65] Fledging young call all with high-pitched, drawn-out notes, variously transcribed as feek, peeyee and pzeei, and are often likened to the noise of a gate swinging on a rusty hinge.[8][36]
The long-eared owl has an extremely large distributional range. In Eurasia, they are distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles (including almost the entirety of Ireland), in both of which they are found somewhat spottily but quite broadly, especially for an owl. From western France east through the remainder of Europe they are found nearly everywhere. Though still usually quite common in these areas, there are small spots where they do not usually occur in Italy, Austria and Southeastern Europe.[1][8][37] In Scandinavia they are found only as a breeding species in about the southern two-thirds of Norway, Sweden and Finland while they usual persist year around in haunts in the southern tips of Norway and Sweden, respectively, as well as in all of Denmark. In coastal Norway they are found at their worldwide northern limit as breeding bird, with long-eared owls nesting as far north as in the Subarctic zone of Troms.[1][8][37] In latitudinal range, they are found as far south the Azores, the Canary Islands while their limited breeding range in north Africa is from Morocco to Tunisia, as well as seemingly in northernmost Algeria.[1][37][66][67] Out of Europe, they are found very spottily as breeders in Turkey, northernmost Syria, Israel and Lebanon.[1][66][67] They are quite broadly distributed within Russia, breeding in about the southern two-thirds of the country (north as far as roughly Chernyshevsky and Yakutsk) and often occurring year around in about the southern third of it (north to about the cities of Perm, Tyumen and Tomsk) and east to Siberia, ranging far as Sakhalin. Their range is continuous from Russia into most of Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, about half of Uzbekistan and infrequently into northern Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.[1][68] In the east, they range through most of Mongolia (absent from the southwest) and the western and eastern parts of northern China, with seasonally uncertain status in the Koreas. Long-eared owls are found throughout the islands of Japan but mainly winter only in points south of Osaka.[1][69] The long-eared owl occurs apparently only in winter in small spots of southern France, southern Greece, northwestern Egypt, northern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, broadly in much of Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India (such as the Kutch, Punjab, Kashmir), as well as to the east in Bhutan, southern China, Taiwan and most of South Korea.[1][4][8][67][69] Irruptive wanderings have resulted in vagrant long-eared owls in various places such as the Faroe islands, Iceland and Madeira as well as Ryukyu Islands in the east.[4]
This species is found widely distributed in North America as well. Their northern limits are reached in much of British Columbia, though they are mainly absent from the western and coastal part, with the breeding range scarcely spilling over into the southern part of the Northwest Territories. As is the case in most of Eurasia, they are usually found at up to 50 degrees north. Long-eared owls are also found breeding in most of Alberta, all but northern Manitoba and southern Ontario and Quebec only to the southernmost part of the Hudson Bay. However, with the exception of inland southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, and the southern parts of Ontario and Quebec, as well as an isolated population in Newfoundland, long-eared owls usually vacate their Canadian range during winter.[1][8][9][70] The species range as a breeding species is far more extensive in the west than the east within the United States.[1][9] They breed in Washington, Montana and North Dakota mostly continuously to much of California, where habitat is appropriate, Arizona, western Colorado and western New Mexico as well as less broadly in South Dakota and Iowa. Even though they are absent from the Pacific coasts in Washington and Oregon, they may be found breeding along the Pacific in southern California and even Baja California in Mexico.[1][9][70] The first record of breeding for mainland Mexico was recorded for an incidental observed nest built by owls in Janos Biosphere Reserve in Chihuahua.[71] They also breed and occur year around in most of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Breeding and/or year around occurrence is very rare in the eastern U.S. with a few records of them nesting in Maine, Virginia and West Virginia.[1][9][70][72] The long-eared owl occurs much more broadly in North America during the non-breeding season and may found essentially all over the Midwest, Texas and as far south in Mexico as Colima, Veracruz and northern Oaxaca. The species also occurs in the non-breeding season in Louisiana (but for the southeast) and much of northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina north to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and southern Pennsylvania.[1][8][9][70] Very rarely, these birds have turned up in Florida (in times of exceptional irruption) and, as a vagrant, even the Bermudas.[4][8] They are found also by winter and in migration in much of the east coast of the United States, from the Outer Banks in North Carolina, broadly in eastern Pennsylvania and almost anywhere in Delaware or New Jersey, southeastern New York (including New York City) and north to much of southern New England including almost all of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as southern New Hampshire.[1][8][9][70]
Optimal habitat tends towards access to open spaces with short vegetation and abundant prey and wooded cover for roosting and nesting.[9][73] In terms of attitudinal range, this species may live at many elevations with no strong altitudinal preferences noted, although they tend to be absent above the montane tree line. The species has been recorded exceptionally nesting at 2,700 m (8,900 ft) above sea level in Kashmir.[74] Long-eared owls tend to inhabit usually rather open landscapes with groups of trees, hedges or small woods, as well as pastureland with rows of trees and bushes, any type of forest with clearings, forest edges, semi-open taiga forest, swampy areas and bogs, especially those with willows, alder and poplars, orchards with old fruit trees, parks, cemeteries with trees and bushes, even gardens and timbered areas in villages, towns or cities.[8] In many parts of the world, including China, Israel and the American southwest, long-eared owls have shown the ability to adapt to deserts, though more commonly semi-desert, and may nest and roost in available oases and adapting to hunt prey over the open desert ground, whether it is sandy or more rocky.[75][76][77][78] The preferred habitat in Great Britain was found to consist most regularly (amongst 200 nests) of small tree plantations, copses or scattered trees on moorlands, heath or mosses (33%), followed by blocks of forest (24.5%), smaller plantations, shelterbelts or hedgerows in various agricultural areas (24%) and scrub or wooded clumps near the coast and in wetlands (15%).[14] All nests in Finland in a study were no more than 500 m (1,600 ft) from cultivated land and only occurred on margins of larger woods or forests.[79] Ecological compensation areas (i.e. habitat for wildlife on privately owned farmland) in Switzerland did provide habitat for long-eared owls but it was found that voles were more extensively hunted in mowed sections of the lands rather than the more densely vegetated areas where voles were most abundant. This indicates habitat (in particular open ground habitat) is more important to the predators than prey densities, at least locally.[80] In Spain, when compared to the little owl (Athene noctua), long-eared owls were more likely to be found in low disturbance areas where forest transitioned into plantations and to areas with a relatively low human presence.[81] A preference by long-eared owls for stands of conifers has been noted in many American studies.[9][82] In Ontario, the species breeds most often in dense conifer stands of wood and reforestation groves that are often somewhat wet, thence less often in mixed or deciduous areas.[83] A similar association with conifers was observed aseasonally in Michigan.[82] In North Dakota, dense thickets of small trees and brushy margins of more extensive forest tracts were the main habitat for these owls.[84] In western areas where mixed woodlands may occur, however, deciduous stands may attract wintering owls, providing they have heavy growths of climbing vines.[85] In the Sierra Nevadas, long-eared owls are often found in riparian zone of mixed woods around oaks and ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa).[86] Analysis from Oregon has shown that forest management had no discernable effect on long-eared owls, indicating that they are not truly forest owls but clearances of riparian vegetation, conversion of foraging areas to agricultural fields and reforestation of open habitats did reduce local numbers.[87] Despite being adaptable to both very cold areas, including the taiga and scarcely Subarctic, and quite warm areas, including drier and/or arid parts of the subtropics, the long-eared owl is largely confined to temperate zones of the north and is less climatically adaptable than the short-eared owl, with the latter species acclimating to nearly all climates and making its homes both in the Arctic and the tropics whether wet and dry so long as open habitats are available.[4][6][88][89]
Long-eared owls are more or less strictly nocturnal in activity. Usually activity for the species commences at dusk.[8] After nightfall long-eared owls in Idaho were least active from 8-10 pm and from 5-6 am, while the hours around 10-12 pm and 3-5 am were often the peak times of activity.[90] When living relatively close to the Arctic, long-eared owls may be forced to forage during daylight as no full nightfall may occur during summer.[91] When flying by day, long-eared owls are often mobbed by diurnal birds such as corvids and other birds of prey.[8] Often long-eared owls will discharge a fairly large amount of pellets and drop them below regular day roosts. Unlike most other owls, the species has no territorial hunting ground.[4][36] In Switzerland, 14 long-eared owls examined using radiotelemetry were found to have an average home range of 980 ha (3.8 sq mi). In the study, they required fields along borders of woodlands, avoiding completely treeless areas more so than they were prevalent in the environment.[92] In the České Budějovice area of Czech Republic, 9 radiotagged owls were studied. Nearly equal numbers were found in suburban and urban areas, and urban ones used developed areas for more than 50% of their nocturnal activity while suburban ones used developed areas for less than half of their activities. Similar habitats were favored by both urban and suburban owls but urban owls had to range wider to avoid heavy human activity and access city parks and so had larger average ranges, 446 ha (1.72 sq mi) vs 56 ha (0.22 sq mi), while suburban ones had easier access to meadows and stands of woods.[93]
Out of roughly 19 regular species of owl in North America and 13 regular species of owl in Europe, the long-eared owl is classed as one of the five in both continents to be truly migratory, moving annually in at least some areas and in some numbers from summer to winter grounds and back whether or not it is an irruptive year.[37][70][94] Northern populations are migratory, showing a strong tendency to wander south in autumn. Some normally young bird from central Europe migrate southwest at distances of up to more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Central European adults are less migratory, at most merely wandering in winter.[8] Long-eared owls that breed Scandinavia generally migrate to nearly anywhere in Europe, from Great Britain to Southeast Europe, though some may disperse as far as north Africa or Asia Minor.[37][95] In Europe, males and females seem to differ slightly in migratory behaviour. Long-eared owls wintering in Denmark were found to be heavily biased towards females, also there is a bias towards females in winter surveys in other areas such as southern Sweden. At 10 wintering sites in Europe, females were 36% more common than males. The hypothesis posited by those that studied the owls in Denmark is that females face a higher rate of predation by larger birds of prey and may distribute away from Fennoscandia where densities are high of those predators and to areas that show low densities of these predators. Another, non-exclusive, theory is that they may be avoiding areas with deep snow that may inhibit prey capture.[43] Supporting data that male long-eared owls winter further north than females was gathered in southern Norway, where the recovery of dead owls (from car or powerline collisions) of the species encountered in late fall throughout winter, males were 45% more common than females.[96] On evidence, many of the females that vacate Norway and even Fennoscandia come to winter in Great Britain (the female migrants here being up to 3.5 times more common during winter than male migrants in one study).[44][96] Two birds in ringing studies that were recorded in late winter in Germany were observed to return for the summer to central Russia (near Yaroslavl, 2,050 km (1,270 mi) away) and to eastern Russia (near Kazan, 2,410 km (1,500 mi) away).[4] Birds that breed in central Asia have been recorded to winter in a wide variety of locales, including the Egyptian Nile valley, Pakistan, northern India and southern China.[8] In North America, migrants generally sourced from Canada and the Upper Midwest winter almost anywhere in the remaining United States, however they will irruptively migrate as far as Georgia and several areas of Mexico and seldom in Florida.[8][36] Typically the northern limit of the wintering range fall up to the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, the southern reaches of the Upper Midwest and central New England.[4][70] Spring migration was tracked along with northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadius) as they migrated through Oswego County, New York via mist nets, with the saw-whet considerably outnumbering long-eared owls. Here, migration of long-eared owl was between March 21 and April 14 and, unlike the saw-whets, the long-eared owl migration does not appear to be effected as extensively by weather conditions.[97] Long-eared owls are 19.5% of owls (or 197 total owls) recorded migrating through Cape May Point in fall (against a majority, 60.6%, being saw-whet owls), with 26.1% of the specimens from the species caught in the mist nets being adults. More than 90% of long-eared owls migrate between mid-October and late November, with the immatures migrating earlier, 52.1% of juveniles having passed through in October whereas only 9.4% of adults migrated in the month. Cape May studies also indicated that 58.87% of long-eared owls were caught in the dark before dawn rather than other times of night.[98] Based on evidence from Cape May, migrating long-eared owls tend to fly higher above the ground than do migrating saw-whet and barn owls but not as high as the short-eared owl, with the latter owl often able to avoid mist nets apparently via its flying height while moving through.[55] Per a study in Idaho, 7 radio-tagged owls actually migrating both north, 75 to 125 km (47 to 78 mi) north of their respective nesting sites, and to higher elevations after the breeding season (in many cases possibly to exploit displaced rodents in recently logged areas).[99]
The long-eared owl has the peculiar ability to increase populations and then disperse in nearly multi-directional movements during good years for prey numbers. Banding records across North America show highly erratic numbers and movements across the continent of North America with unpredictable peak numbers of migrants in completely different years respectively for the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and New Jersey.[100] Therefore, the species is sometimes considered “nomadic” despite many populations of the species being consistent annual migrants. Similar tendency towards so-called “nomadism” is shared by other widespread raptors semi-specialized to hunting voles over open ground, such as short-eared owls and hen harriers (Circus cyaneus).[4][18][100] These erratic movements and peaks and ebbs of northern populations has lent to descriptions of the long-eared owl as “irruptive”, however it generally moves in quite different ways from owls largely endemic to the taiga (or tundra), which are more traditionally irruptive in that they tend to migrate little or not at all when prey remain ample in their native home range but then move south in mass when prey populations crash. Long-eared owls, unlike these irruptive northern owls, often migrate from the northern areas regardless of conditions. However, like the northern irruptive owls, long-eared owls tend to appear in unprecedented numbers to the south when a peak prey year is followed by a winter during which prey population crashes. In North America, the migratory habits of long-eared owls are strongly mirrored by those of northern saw-whet owls.[18][101][102] Study of banding records in Saskatchewan show that the long-eared owl Canadian populations may be considered more truly irruptive species both as a breeder and migrant in that only appears in numbers during peak vole years, with large numbers only in 4 of 44 banding years. During 7 low years, the long-eared owls of Saskatchewan seemed to disappear altogether from much of the province. Peak years also coincided often with snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) peaks, possibly due to lessened competition (as the larger owls favored prey is locally the hare) and interspecific predation by great horned owls.[15][100] The phenomena of movements that seem to be nomadic or purportedly irruptive in nature may occur as well in Europe, though given the species’ denser population in general there in comparison to North America may result in less noticeable wide variations in numbers.[4][37] Years with irruptive numbers of long-eared owls have been noted in the British Isles when prey peaks then crashes back in Scandinavia, resulting in much larger numbers of migrant long-eared owls into the islands than normal, as well as concurrently large numbers of short-eared owls and harriers.[14][103] In southern Finland during a peak prey year followed by a prey crash, a very large number of long-eared owls were detected and were seen to be likely food stressed, as several were foraging actively during daylight despite the extensive nighttime hours during the season.[104]
During daytime, long-eared owls tends to roost in an upright position on a branch, not infrequently close to the trunk, oftentimes within dense foliage. In winter, the long-eared owl often stays close to the same tree or grove of trees (i.e. in and around parks, large gardens, or cemeteries). Usually, when approached, the owl freezes with its body stiffly upright, eyes closed to narrow slits and ear tufts erect. This is called the “tall-thin position” and is common to at least a couple dozen species of typical owl. If approached closed, the owls will alternately open and close their eyes (apparently having stirred but trying to fool potential predators into thinking the owl is still at rest), finally lowering ear tufts, fluffing body plumage and flying to another roost.[8][37] Unlike most owls, which show a tendency towards territorial behavior on a fixed range year-around when possible, long-eared owls in the non-breeding season may form aggregations of owls while roosting. Such groupings may include 6 to 50 owls, with a European record of about 150 owls at a single roost.[4][36][37][85] Even other migratory owls in the temperate zone do not tolerate each other as closely as do long-eared owls, with short-eared owls seemingly only forming aggregations when food supplies are exceptionally high, while social roosting in long-eared owls seems to occur regardless of local prey numbers.[37][105] Long-eared owls tend to roost in the depths of the "darkest stands of trees" in order to conceal their presence, though they prefer being close to forested edge to allow access to hunting over more open ground.[36] A study in the New Jersey Meadowlands area showed that roosting owls had a strong fidelity for certain trees, particularly conifers such as cedars where the main truck is large obscured from view and a grouping of at least 2-3 closely clumped trees occurs. Roost height in the New Jersey study was at 3 to 15 m (9.8 to 49.2 ft) or occasionally higher. In New Jersey, different roosts were preferred each year and in the local heavily modified environment, the owls become partially habituated to human activities. However, approach at closer than 3 to 4 m (9.8 to 13.1 ft) away usually caused them to flush. Departure of owls for nighttime hunting would generally occur between 40 and 49 minutes after sundown.[17] Studies in the Moscow region of wintering roosts were done over 10 years, with 12 communal and 14 solitary roosts found. The communal roosts included up to 16 individuals per winter, with a mean of 9.9. Overall, the average in Moscow per roost site was 2.1 owls. Vole numbers the preceding year were likely the causes of numeric variations in years here while wind and snow avoidance were key in characteristics of roost sites.[106] Extraordinarily large roosts were the norm in a study in Stavropol, Russia, where the general roost area could host from 80 to 150 individuals each winter over 4 years, with 93.7% of the roosts located in coniferous trees.[107] In Milan, Italy, from 2 to 76 long-eared owls were observed per urban roost site. Here, nighttime observation showed that owls individually would depart the roost at peak during the darkest part of nighttime. A majority of the Milan roosting owls did not fly toward urban areas instead flying to suburban fields and forest where prey is more easily encountered.[16] The reason for roosting in aggregations seems to be at least in part to mitigate predation risks.[4][17]
Long-eared owls may divide their hunting into phases, the first stopping around midnight, the second beginning some point after midnight and ending an hour before sunrise.[4][8] While hunting, they tend focuses on the edge of woodlands, hedgerows and open spaces with rough grassland, and over young trees and open ground of all kinds. They hunt mainly on the wing, flying low and fairly slowly, often being quite low to ground, i.e. only around 150 cm (59 in).[4][8][36] More often than visually finding their prey, it is thought that long-eared owls most often audibly detect the rustling of their intended food. In lab settings, long-eared owls were considerably more skilled at finding mice by sound in more or less complete darkness than tawny and barred owls (Strix varia), and in some American experiments even outclassed the auditorily-acute barn owls in this regard.[108][109] Once prey is spotted, the long-eared owl's flight suddenly stalls, then they quickly drop with talons spread to pounce on prey that is perceived, or especially, that comes out into the open.[4][8] Habitat may be perhaps even more key than prey numbers to the selection of hunting grounds. Often when prey numbers are more ample in timbered areas nearer the roost or rich marshy areas in the vicinity, the long-eared owls will still often come to more prey-poor areas such as old fields so that they can detect prey on open ground.[80][110] The footspan of a long-eared owl, including claws, reaches on average 11.3 and 12.5 cm (4.4 and 4.9 in) in males and females, respectively, which would be large for a diurnal bird of prey but is quite small for an owl of its size, given the physiological differences in the way different birds of prey tend to kill their prey. While acciptrid raptors tend to kill by stabbing with their talons through vital organs, owls are more likely to constrict their prey to death, so tend to have proportionately larger, more robust feet.[4][108][111][112] In other medium-sized owls, the footspan in tawny owls and barn owls respectively averages 13.4 and 13.2 cm (5.3 and 5.2 in) in between the sexes (notably footspan seems to be a fairly reliable predictor of body mass of an owl as well).[4][108] Prey capture by long-eared owls was studied and compared to tawny owls in a European experiment. The two owl species caught mammals and beetles caught in similar ways but the long-eared owls shied away from flying sparrows and would only capture the sparrows when they perched (though the tawny did not avoid flying sparrows, it too would only capture the prey when perched). Long-eared owls either disregarded or killed but did not eat amphibians, while tawny owls did catch and eat amphibians when they were available. Occasionally the tawny owls would attack fish whilst one long-eared owl caught but did not eat a fish. The European study further revealed that several owls of different species ate bits of plant and did not appear to do so out of food deprivation or hunger.[113]
Taken as whole, the global population of long-eared owls may appear to have a widely varying diet. One study accrued information from 312 studies from around the species’ range. In total 478 prey species were found to be described, of which 180 were mammal species, 191 were bird species, 83 were assorted invertebrate species, 15 were reptiles, 7 were amphibians, and reportedly just a couple fish species. This included a total of approximately 813,033 prey items having been reviewed.[114] However, on closer inspection, the long-eared owl generally appears to be something of a dietary specialist. It usually takes primarily, often nearly entirely, small mammals, e.g. rodents, as food in almost every part of its range. Usually a broad picture emerges that between 80 and 99% of the diet consists of mammals, averaging 94% in one estimate for all of Europe. However, in warmer, insular or more urbanized environments, a greater percentage or, rarely, even a majority of the diet can locally be non-mammalian prey.[4][8][114][115] Mean prey sizes have been studied extensively and are almost always fall within a very narrow range. In Europe, the mean estimated prey size overall was 32.2 g (1.14 oz).[48][115] Meanwhile, in North America, mean prey sizes have varied between 30.7 and 37 g (1.08 and 1.31 oz) in two estimates.[108][115] In general, throughout their range, the mean size of prey is generally encapsulated between 20 and 50 g (0.71 and 1.76 oz), usually well under 40 g (1.4 oz), and only in cases where long-eared owls, perhaps through lessened competition, has regular access to prey weighing 60 to 100 g (2.1 to 3.5 oz) or more, may the mean prey size range uncommonly reach 50 to 60 g (1.8 to 2.1 oz).[108][114][115] Cases of exceptionally large prey are mentioned where they occur below.
The long-eared owls derives almost of its food energy from rodents. Among this order, they are usually associated with a single group, the voles. The life history of the long-eared owl is inexorably linked to voles. Voles, members of the family Cricetidae and subfamily Arvicolinae, are often numerous, small-to-medium-sized rodents with relatively short tails.[116][117] In Europe, especially, the long-eared owl can be considered a specialized vole hunter. Out of 86 prey studies in the continent, in about 69% voles made up more than half of the prey.[4][114] In particular, in the region of central Europe, a little over 82% of 57,500 prey items was made up of voles.[4][37][118] Where a variety of voles are available in Europe, long-eared owls show a preference for the most gregariously inclined common vole (Microtus arvalis) over the less sociable field vole (Microtus agrestis). In central Europe, 76% of the diet was compromised by the common vole species alone.[4][118][119] More specifically, in the largest known study from Germany, of 45,439 prey items in the regions of Berlin and Nordharz, common vole accounted for 72%, with the field vole and tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus) collectively another 5.5%.[120] Another large representation of the common vole was in Slovakia, where they made up 84.1% of the diet (27,720 out of 32,192 total prey items). In different years in Slovakia, common voles may range from as much as 92.4% to as little as 57.2% depending on vole numbers.[121] Locally, such as in former Czechoslovakia and in western Ukraine, about 94-95% of the diet may be common voles alone (of 4,153 and 5,896 prey items, respectively).[120] The dietary association with the common vole generally continues to most areas of European Russia, such as Moscow.[122][123] At times, such as indicated in Moldova, long-eared owls are capable of culling as much as 50% of the common vole population and it was opined that the voles would easily become pestilent to humans if not naturally controlled.[124] Like many voles, common voles are subject to population cycles. In accordance with the cyclic nature of vole populations, the local numbers of long-eared owls can rise and fall sharply. In low vole years, they tend to lay fewer eggs and feed fewer young, and may not attempt to breed at all. In high vole years, they generally lay and hatch more eggs and rear more young. While incubation starts with first egg, only the oldest siblings may be feed in low food years. Generally various species of mice are eaten in poor years for common voles but appear to be an inefficient substitute (at least in more northerly climes) based on the owls’ lower breeding rates.[4][36][37][118] Apparently, common voles at times may collectively shift in temporal activity into more diurnal activity in what may be an attempt to mitigate heavy owl predation (especially as basically all European owls tend to hunt them), although several diurnal predators are nearly as specialized predators of them as well.[125] Evidence has indicated that common voles are altering their life cycles with unknown long-term results due likely to global warming. It is likely that the long-eared owls of the region are to be effected by this but it is uncertain exactly what the resulting effect will be.[126]
In some parts of Europe, common voles are at times not found or are locally infrequent or rare, especially on large islands, Scandinavia and some parts of the southern reaches, such as the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Greece. Therefore, long-eared owls live mostly on different prey species. Supplemental or, occasionally, primary prey when voles are less common are murid rodents, especially the commoner genera such as Apodemus or field mice, Mus or house mice and, occasionally, Rattus or typical rats.[4][37] In Scandinavian studies, common voles were still the main prey in Finland where distributed (and outnumbered field voles in the owl's diet four-to-one) and partially in Denmark (where foods were split between the two commoner vole species and field mice) but are not in Sweden and Norway.[37][120][127] In Sweden, where common voles are not found, field voles were the main food, making up 65.2% of 13,917 prey items, followed by Apodemus field mice species, which were a further 25.3%.[128] In Norway, 3,431 prey items were primarily field voles (42.75%), Apodemus species (12.64%), tundra voles (12.35%) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) (12.06%).[120] In the British Isles, primary prey switched between field voles (46.6% of 1,228 prey items in the Peak District and 79% in southern Scotland) and Apodemus mice, most especially the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), (75.6% of 1,772 prey items pooled from different parts of England and 69.5% of 1,373 prey items in Ireland, where native voles are entirely absent).[12][120][129][130] In warmer areas, the long-eared owls may vary in diet depending on local prey composition. In Spain, voles, including common voles, Mediterranean pine voles (Microtus duodecimcostatus) and Lusitanian pine vole (Microtus lusitanicus), collectively made up 76.4% of 6,945 prey items in the central part of the country while on the Ebro in northern Spain, the Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) was dominant, at 69.5% of 846 prey items.[131][132] Overall, in 7 studies from assorted Spanish locations, wood mice and Mus species were the most regular prey (together accounting for just under 60% of the sum total prey items).[132] Many studies in Italy show that the species is not as much of a specialized feeder in the country with considerable regional variation in prey preferences.[133] Inclement weather in particular, including any kind of precipitation or high winds, seems to cause Italian long-eared owls to increase the diversity of prey that's routinely caught.[134] In some Italian studies, Savi's pine vole (Microtus savii) were the main food, at Prignano Cilento where they made up 60.4% by number and 61.6% by biomass. In others, the wood mouse was the main food, such as Cremona, at 59.1% of 1,482 prey items.[135][136] An unusual close prey association was noted in northern Italy, where access to landfills allowed them access to exceptionally large prey, brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), with juvenile rats caught that weighed on average 140 g (4.9 oz) and sometimes weighing up to 243 g (8.6 oz), making up 20.5% by number and 65.1% by biomass, although wood mice were the most numerous found prey in pellets. Because of the access to rats, the mean prey size in the north Italian study was an exceptionally high 58 g (2.0 oz)[137] Generally, Mus mice seem to be the main foods for long-eared owls in Greece, especially the Macedonian mouse (Mus macedonicus), but also not infrequently the southern vole (Microtus levis) is important in the diet there as well.[138][139] In the Canary Islands, the introduced house mouse (Mus musculus) was deemed to primarily support the owls today, consisting of 69.5% of 3,628 prey items per the largest known study.[11]
Outside of Europe within Eurasia, the feeding association with voles for long-eared owls weakens somewhat but does continue apiece in adjacent Turkey, particularly southern vole and Günther's vole (Microtus guentheri) (the latter, for instance, making up to 78.7% of 5,324 prey items in Karapınar).[140][141][142] In the Middle East, prey preferences varied based on soil composition in desert edge areas, with Israeli studies showing primary shifting rapidly from Gerbillus gerbil species to Meriones jirds to Günther's voles, with similar findings in wintering owls in Iran.[77][143][144] Relatively large-sized prey, Indian gerbils (Tatera indica) and short-tailed bandicoot rats (Nesokia indica), was reported for wintering long-eared owls in Iran estimated to average 163 g (5.7 oz) and 155 g (5.5 oz), respectively, constituted a good portion of the prey (72.9% of biomass) and taken in almost even numbers with smaller Gerbillus species.[144] Much further east, in China and Mongolia, long-eared owls often subsist on different varieties rodent, especially small hamsters, which are also cricetid but not arvicoline, such as the Chinese striped (Cricetulus barabensis) and Roborovski dwarves (Phodopus roborovskii), alternatively with larger jirds, such as midday jirds (Meriones meridianus), as well as house mice.[75][145][146][147] In more northerly eastern regions, voles continue to be of import. In western Siberia, tundra voles, narrow-headed voles (Microtus gregalis), Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) and steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus) were the main rodent prey.[148] In Japan, diet is strongly biased to rodents such as Japanese grass vole (Microtus montebelli) (84.2% of foods in Niigata on Honshu), grey red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus) (87.2% on Hokkaido) or house mouse (77.7% in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku).[149][150][151]
In North America, long-eared owls also primarily rely on small rodents in their diet, but their diet is somewhat more diverse by rodent family and less completely reliant on voles than their Eurasian counterparts.[115] In general, the further north they are found in North America, the more restricted and vole based the diet is for this species. While diets are poorly researched in detail in Canada,[152] in the northern tier states of Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Wisconsin and northern Oregon voles were easily the main prey for long-eared owls.[64][110][153][154][155][156][157][158] In particular, the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) tends to be a dietary staple, such as in the two of the larger American studies, in Michigan where they constituted 70.6% of 3,269 prey items and in Wisconsin where they constituted 83.4% of 3,273 prey items.[64][159] Another regularly featured vole in the diet in America is the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), but few other voles seem to be taken other than opportunistically excluding Oregon where the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) and Townsend's vole (Microtus townsendii) locally led the foods.[156][158][160] In North America, non-arvicoline cricetid rodents such as the genus Peromyscus, or deermice, and the smaller Reithrodontomys, or harvest mice, fill the niche of small wild mice and may be irresistible to hunting long-eared owls.[115] Peromyscus mice were the main foods for this species in Colorado, Illinois and most studies from Iowa (composing up to 59.1% of the local diet).[108][161][162][163]
In many areas, particular arid vicinities, the superfamily Geomyoidea supplants cricetid rodents as the primary foods, namely pocket mice, kangaroo rats and occasionally pocket gophers and jumping mice. Particularly this appears to be the case in the American southwest where in Arizona, Perognathus pocket mice composed 61.3% of the diet, in New Mexico, where species pairs of pocket mice and kangaroo rats composed 51.8% and 20.5% of the foods, respectively, and in southern California, where Perognathus were 51% of foods and Dipodomys kangaroo rats were a further 37.8% of the foods.[78][164][165] In the Sonoran desert of Mexico, nearly all known prey were geomyoids, in particular the Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami), which alone made up 74.7% of the foods.[166] In a well-studied population, Snake River region of southeastern Idaho as well as Owyhee county in the southwest part of the state, geomyoid rodents are usually the most prominent prey, especially the Great Basin pocket mouse (Perognathus parvus) and Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) (often supplemented heavily with Peromyscus mice). Due to the relatively large size of kangaroo rats, in Idaho, mean prey size may range up to at least 41 g (1.4 oz)[167][168][169][170] In some parts of North America, richer biomass are likely when larger prey takes the primary position, such as cotton rats. Cotton rats were the main prey in Janos Biosphere Reserve, Mexico (43.2% by number, 69.1% by biomass) and in Texas, in the latter slightly outnumbering (36%) the much smaller harvest mice (23%).[171][172] Since the mean body size of hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) caught reportedly is around 100 g (3.5 oz), they probably represent a very productive prey resource for long-eared owls.[172][173] Similarly, exceptional large prey was taken northeastern Oregon, where both juvenile, weighing about 30 g (1.1 oz) and adult, weighing about 90 g (3.2 oz), northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) were caught and made up 55.7% by number and 74.4% by biomass of the diets of long-eared owls. Depending on circumstances, the mean size of northern pocket gophers taken in different areas can vary from 41 to 100 g (1.4 to 3.5 oz) or higher, but long-eared owls usually take juveniles outside of the Oregon study (weighing on the lower end of that mass scale).[90][169][174][175]
Non-rodent mammalian prey is seldom of great import to long-eared owls, though they can take some numbers of other kinds of mammals locally. Despite claims that the long-eared owls “avoids” shrews as prey, it is probably more correct to say that they do not seek them out nearly as often as more socially inclined and/or densely populated rodent prey. Some other owls may be considered regular and common shrew predators, such as often barn owls. In Europe, a broad picture of prey selection indicates about 2% of the diet of long-eared owls consists of shrews.[4][48][115] Locally, relatively high numbers of shrews were reported in Finland, where 10.7% of 3,759 prey items were common shrews (Sorex araneus), in southern Scotland, where the common shrew made up 17.3% of 514 prey items, in northeast Greece, where lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) were 19.3% of 311 prey items and in western Siberia, where Sorex species were 17.3% of 335 prey items.[12][127][138][148] Similarly, in North America, shrews are rarely more than secondary prey.[115] Exceptionally high numbers of shrews were noted in Ohio, where the relatively large northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) and the relatively small North American least shrew (Cryptotis parva) made up 10.46% and 10.22% of the diet, respectively, and in Tennessee, where 12.85% of the diet was least shrew.[156][173] The smallest mammal on earth (and thus smallest recorded mammalian or vertebrate prey), the 1.8 g (0.063 oz) Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), may be seldom hunted by long-eared owls.[176] Bats are another supplemental prey type for long-eared owls. One compilation study based on 12 study sites in the Mediterranean area (in Spain, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Romania and Switzerland) found up to 2% of prey remains were bats. The bats taken in the Mediterranean region ranged in size from the whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus), estimated at as low as 4 g (0.14 oz), to the European free-tailed bat (Tadarida teniotis), estimated to weigh up to 54 g (1.9 oz).[177] A exceptionally close predatory relationship was noted between bats, especially Japanese house bats (Pipistrellus abramus), and long-eared owls in the Beijing area of China, where bats accounted for 28.6% of 3,561 prey items overall, and 56.6% of the diet locally in urban, rather than suburban, roosts.[178] Other mammals, outside of aforementioned groups (i.e. cricetid, murid and geomyoid) rodents, are known to be hunted but are generally a negligible part of the long-eared owl's diet, including hedgehogs, moles, rabbits and hares and weasels as well as rarely taken rodents like dormice, flying squirrels and squirrels (including chipmunks).[4][114][115][121][131][147] While lagomorphs such as hares and rabbits are very rare prey for long-eared owls, occasionally they may capture one. Such prey was estimated to weigh 271 g (9.6 oz) (for cottontail rabbits) and 471 g (1.038 lb) (for jackrabbits) in Idaho, meaning very small young rabbits and jackrabbits are likely captured.[167][169][170][174] However, sometimes long-eared owls can very rarely capture exceptionally large lagomorphs. The record sized mammalian prey to be taken by a long-eared owl, was recorded in the case of predation upon a probable juvenile black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) which weighed an estimated 800 g (1.8 lb).[115] Two instances of scavenging on carrion were reported in Italy, the first known case of this for the species, where long-eared owls consumed parts of an adult crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) and an adult European pine marten (Martes martes), both prey the long-eared owls were certainly unlikely to have killed.[179]
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Long-eared owls are generally infrequent predators of birds. Food studies from Eurasia place it as an opportunistic and occasional bird predator, while in North America they are do not seem to generally take large numbers of birds in any area. In winter, sometimes these owls can come to live largely off of small birds gathered in communal sleeping places, often near villages or towns. Particularly snow cover during winter is likely to influence local long-eared owls to switch from mammalian to avian prey.[180] Like barn owls, long-eared owls have been known to hover around roosts in bushes in attempts to disturb the sleeping birds, which may provoke the prey to fly out of their shelter, only to be caught.[4][181] Long-eared owls, along with migrating short-eared owls, were observed in Spain hunting night-migrating passerines that were attracted to manmade light sources.[182] When killing birds, long-eared owls are very likely to peck about the rear part of the body and the head and decapitate their victims, resulting in more skeletal damage than is typical in other owls and making prey identification potentially difficult.[183] Particularly often taken by long-eared owls in urban areas and/or the edge of arid habitat are house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and occasionally the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus). A surprisingly high balance of prey for wintering long-eared owls in desert areas was shown to be avian. This was in the case in Algeria, where 37.5% of the diet and 40% of the biomass were avian and the most identified overall prey genus was Passer species, at 20.7% by number and 17% of biomass.[184] For wintering owls in the city of Jerusalem, 90.7% of the diet (150 prey items) were small birds, led by house sparrow (22%) and the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (16.7%).[10] Further study of the long-eared owl's diet in Israel's Negev desert showed that 28.3% of 3,062 prey items were birds.[185] In Egypt, 24.6% of prey items were birds including house sparrow (15.4%) and European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (2.4%).[186] In Europe, birds rarely compromise a majority of the foods, but hearty numbers are taken in several areas nonetheless. In central Europe, birds were estimated to contribute an average of 8% of the diet (of 52 species). In peak vole years, birds could be less than 2% of the foods while in vole low years, as much as 33% were made up of by birds.[118] Similarly, in the Sofia park, Bulgaria, the number of birds, with an average 9.6% by number and 7.9% by biomass, was variable based on vole numbers but a high number of 44 avian prey species were recorded.[187] In the Sonian Forest, Belgium, 38.3% of 355 prey items were birds, mostly of various passerine species.[188] A study in Baden-Württemberg, Germany found birds to compromise 14.75% of 12,890 prey items, a relatively high balance, with the most common identified bird species being the European goldfinch.[189] Overall British studies found in a sample of 7,161 prey items that 1,161 were birds (14.95%) and that bird were present in 90% of examined pellets. Of these, 46.9% were house sparrow, 7.5% were common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), 4.65% were common blackbird (Turdus merula), 3.35% were European greenfinch (Chloris chloris), 2.92% were song thrush (Turdus philomelos), 2.49% were Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis) and 2.23% were common linnet (Linaria cannabina).[190] More locally in the Peak District of England, birds were 23% of the prey by number and 31.3% by biomass. Of the birds examined here, a majority of those identified were meadow pipits (Anthus pratensis) followed by twite (Linaria flavirostris), and identified birds ranged in size from a probable wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) (average adult weight 9.2 g (0.32 oz)) to an adult northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) (average adult weight 219 g (7.7 oz)). Furthermore, 80% by number and 11 of 25 bird prey species were characteristic of open habitat.[42][129]
Many Italian studies reflect relatively high numbers of birds being hunted, mainly in the non-breeding times. One of the smaller large representations was at Prignano Cilento where 13.85% were made up of mostly unidentified birds.[135] In Regional Park of Decima-Malafede, birds were 31.1% of the diet, 13.7% of which were unidentified passerines, while European goldfinches and European greenfinch accounted for a further 7.1% and 4.6% of the prey items.[191] In the Venice area, of 642 prey items examined and a total prey mass of 15,038 g (33.153 lb), birds made up 38.47% by number and 41% of the biomass.[192] In the winter roost of Imperia, 63.43% of 1,020 prey items were birds and 36.57% were mammals. The main prey identified was the blackcap (51.6%) while the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) was secondary among avian prey (6.73%).[193] In Romanian studies avian prey was relatively important as well. In Agigea there, 32.71% of the foods were birds, with Carduelis species combined constituting 6.04% and swallows being secondary such as the common house martin (Delichon urbicum) (2.52%) and the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) (2.44%).[194] Birds were the main foods for wintering long-eared owls in Romania's Danube delta, with birds making up 59.5% of total prey by number and 51.6% by biomass of 948 prey items against 40.7% by number and 48.4% by biomass for mammals. Here, numerous passerines were mostly taken with the finch family (18.6%), Old World sparrow family (15.7%) and the tit family (12.7%) being the commonest prey families among the birds. The mean bird prey size was calculated at 22.2 g (0.78 oz) while the mean mammal prey size was 24 g (0.85 oz). House sparrows accounted for 14.3% of biomass and Eurasian blackbirds for 12.3% of the biomass on the Danube.[195] While mammals usually are dominant in the diets of long-eared owls in Spain, in the Albufera reserve of the nation, birds were 53.5% by number and 48.6% of the biomass of 864 prey items. A total of 34 species of birds were noted, led by common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) (12.5% by number, 4.8% by biomass), house sparrow (8.2% by number, 12.2% by biomass), barn swallow (6.4% by number, 7% by biomass) and sand martin (Riparia riparia) (3.2% by number, 2.7% by biomass).[196] The main recorded individual prey species in Beijing was the Eurasian tree sparrow, at 38% of the diet, but other avian prey was negligible here.[178]
While most of the passerines attacked by long-eared owls are well within typical prey sizes for this species, while pursuing bird prey many reports note that unusually large prey may be attacked. Avian prey weighing around 100 g (3.5 oz) or somewhat higher such as the larger common thrushes or jays is not uncommonly taken. However, unusually large bird prey for long-eared owls in Europe has included several species at least twice as massive, including adults of the following species: northern lapwings, common wood pigeon (Columbus palumbus), with an average adult weight of 490 g (1.08 lb), common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus), with an average adult weight of 343 g (12.1 oz), red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa), with an average adult weight of 528 g (1.164 lb), western jackdaws (Corvus monedula), with an average adult weight of 246 g (8.7 oz) and Eurasian magpies (Pica pica), with an average adult weight of 230 g (8.1 oz). Much of the largest identifiable and provable prey for long-eared owls in Europe overall were found to be birds.[4][42][114][118][190][195][197] Despite the relatively scarcity of avian prey in the diet in North America, unusually large avian prey has been reported there as well. Such prey have included adults of Northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus), averaging 392 g (13.8 oz), two large adult ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), estimated to weigh slightly over 600 g (1.3 lb), and even apparently at least once an adult sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), which average a relatively huge 885 g (1.951 lb) or three times heavier than an average long-eared owl.[64][198][199][200]
Other than mammals, which compromise a great majority of foods, and birds, which compromise a secondary but locally important portion of the foods, other prey varieties are seldom taken by long-eared owls anywhere. Infrequently, reptiles such as handful of species of snakes and lizards and even fewer amphibians such as frogs and toads. Generally these prey turn up more than singly only as far as is known in slightly arid warmer parts of the species range, mostly within the Canary islands and occasionally the American southwest.[13][115][165][201][202] Fish are almost never recorded in the diet with a total of two prey fish species, both carp and further unidentified carp, recorded in Europe.[203] Despite a rather high diversities of insects (and a low diversity of other invertebrates like arachnids) collected overall, especially in different parts of Eurasia, they are rarely significant contributors to the long-eared owl's diet. Usually in Europe, if any insects are found in pellets, they tend to contribute less than 2% to the prey numbers.[4][118][204][205] Similarly present but slight numbers of insects were noted in Israel as well.[77] Exceptionally large contributor of insects, most often a variety of species or genera of beetle, to prey numbers are noted in some studies such as contributing 6.6% of the diet in Regional Park of Decima-Malafede in Italy, 17.5% in northeastern Greece and 13.3% in western Spain.[139][206] The record contribution for insects surely for Europe was study in central Poland where a single beetle, the common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha), was found to constitute 25% of the prey items.[207] Based on a couple studies in Algeria, insects are a common supplemental food there, contributing up to about 17.3% of the prey items.[184][208] On the isle of Tenerife in the Canary islands, an exceptional 33% of the food was recorded to be insects, with both bush crickets and field crickets contributing 14.8% each, although in broader Canary island studies the significance of insects is reduced to 10.4%.[11][209] The maximum known contribution of insects to the diet in North America was merely 4.3% of the foods for communal roosting long-eared owls in southeast Idaho.[90]
The long-eared owl occurs in multiple competitive environments of the temperate zone alongside other birds of prey. A wide variety of owls are especially likely to be encountered both in terms of shared nocturnality and a shared preference for rodent prey, which is favored by about 75% of owls found in North America and about 85% of the owls found in Europe and occasionally favored by nearly all owls in both continents.[4][9][37] Much study has gone into contrasting the ecology of long-eared owls against other owls and also occasionally diurnal birds of prey, especially in terms of differences in dietary habits and habitat preferences. In Europe, arguably the most populous owl is likely the tawny owl, which has therefore warranted a considerable number of comparisons with long-eared owls. While tawny owls overlap in prey preferences with the long-eared owl, it tends to show greater dietary flexibility, with larger contributions of secondary prey such as birds, reptiles and amphibians and insects. For example, in southern Sweden, the food niche breadth of tawny owls was roughly three times greater than that of long-eared owls. Generally tawny owls prefer more extensively wooded environments than long-eared owls but can adapt as well as the long-eared to forest fragmentation and peri-urbanisation, thus often competing rather directly over foods. While the tawny owl usually selects slightly larger prey on average than long-eared owls, often over 30 g (1.1 oz) mean prey mass, studied size of common voles hunted in central Lithuania showed that both long-eared and tawny owls selected larger than average voles, with average caught estimated at 21.45 g (0.757 oz) against the average weight surveyed by humans at 16.42 g (0.579 oz). Surprisingly, especially in the non-breeding season in this study, long-eared owls in Lithuania tended to select larger voles on average (at 21.56 g (0.761 oz)) than did tawny owls (19.56 g (0.690 oz)).[113][210][211][212] Despite the potential for competition and mortality (for long-eared owls) in the interspecific relationship between the tawny and long-eared owls, the proximity of tawny owls in a study from Switzerland appeared to have no deleterious effect on the breeding on the long-eared species.[213] A few studies have examined the habits of the little owl, probably the next most common European owl and just ahead of the long-eared owl in third, and the long-eared owl in areas where their somewhat overlapping habitat preferences draw them into similar areas. However, the long-eared owl takes larger prey on average usually than little owls, since it focuses more on rodents rather than invertebrates like insects and earthworms and, especially during winter, varies its prey compositions less so than the smaller species. Also, the long-eared owl requires some timbered spots for roosting purposes while little owls can adapt to both treeless and partially treed areas as well as, in Spain at least, more heavily modified areas by humans.[81][146][184][214] Many diurnal raptors in Europe broadly overlap in dietary habits, largely taking voles where they are available, including most species of harrier, buzzards and some falcons, especially common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus). Other than occasional predatory interactions, competition is limited with most of these diurnal birds of prey due to the temporal differences of their habits.[4][37][215][216] In Europe, several other owls, from ones much smaller than to a few species much larger than a long-eared owl, prefer voles and/or lemmings as prey but often differ considerably in their habitat preferences, distributions, nesting habits and/or hunting habits so the long-eared owls are largely naturally partitioned from competing directly with them.[4][37]
On a broader scale, both short-eared owls and barn owls potentially compete for resources with long-eared owls. Despite considerable overlap in both range and diet, long-eared owls are largely buffered from considerable competition with short-eared owls by habitat preferences, as the short-eared owls always venture to more open habitats, generally roosting and nesting in tall grasses rather than timber, and seldom, if ever, hunt in the same edge habitats as the long-eared species.[4][37][141] In western Russia when compared to short-eared owl, long-eared owl showed less of a tendency to appear in cluster where prey was concentrated, most likely because of the habitat differences. In both western Russia and further east in western Siberia, the short-eared tended to take more tundra voles in addition to common voles, while long-eared owls focused more exclusively on common voles.[148][217] Comparisons between barn and long-eared owls have been made in many areas of the latter species less extensive range. The habitats used by the barn and long-eared owls are not mutually exclusive nor are their prey species. Despite being similar aerial hunters of open areas, barn owls differ in life history in many respects from long-eared owls, in part by being cavity nesters. While their dietary habits can appear similar and show similar dependence on small mammals, barn owls are somewhat more generalized and catholic as feeders, with less of a heavy reliance on voles. Barn owls can live quite well on virtually any small mammal assemblage. In some parts of Europe, the two species’ food niche breadth is comparable or even slightly higher in the long-eared. However, globally barn owls are much more wide-ranging, more tropical in their central range and globally have a much wider prey spectrum than long-eared owls. Barn owls are also more widely adaptive to insular living than long-eared owls, and are capable living proficiently on a diversity of prey classes even in environments completely lacking small mammals.[129][138][184][185][215][218][219][220] The American barn owl race is larger than the western barn owl race from Europe and relevant parts of Asia, being more comparable in body mass and foot and talon size to the tawny owl while the western race in Europe is roughly intermediate between the tawny and long-eared owls in body size and foot span. Consequently, in the Americas, barn owls tend to consistently take slightly larger prey than long-eared owls and tend to access a broader overall feeding niche.[4][108][164][167] Despite the great adaptability and range of the barn owl, it was found in a study from France that they experience higher mortality due to starvation than long-eared and tawny owls. This was attributed to the barn owl's inferior lipid fat reserves while they attempt to survive the cooler seasons within temperate climates, as they are better suited to survival in warmer climates.[221]
North America has more species of owl than Europe and can be considered a more competitive environment for long-eared owls living there. However, again, in most cases habitat preferences, slight partitioning in dietary preferences (which may be in prey species or body sizes of prey selected) and life histories generally allow most species to persist even when living in proximity to one another.[4][9] As throughout their range, long-eared owls tend to differ from most other North American owls by being much more migratory in nature. Therefore, cyclic food variations affect them differently and are less likely to be the direct cause of winter mortality than in more permanently residential owls.[32][101][222] Oddly enough, among American owls, long-eared owls most strongly mirror the much smaller northern saw-whet owl in distribution, migratory habits and, to a lesser extent, food habits. The main food of saw-whet owls tends to be Peromyscus mice where they are available and, like most owls, their rodent food selection can broadly overlap with that of long-eared owls.[97][98][115][156] It has been posited that the less broadly ranging occurrence of long-eared owls in general compared to in their European range is in part due to greater resource competition between them and the two widespread screech owls, the eastern (Megascops asio) and western screech owls (Megascops kennicotti).[4] However, the feeding niche tends to be much wider and more opportunistic in screech owls, which often feed on a diversity of invertebrates (mainly insects but also crayfish) and alternate prey (a higher balance of birds and frogs, for instance) and so are unlikely to competitively limit rodent numbers to the detriment of long-eared owls.[9][32][115][170]
The most easily observed and most dramatic portion of interspecies owl and raptor ecology is interspecific predations. In this regard, long-eared owls are much more often the victims rather than the predators. Their generally successful life history on the contrary often makes long-eared owls perhaps more vulnerable than most other medium-sized owls to predations and even perhaps many smaller owl species. These include nesting in relatively open abandoned bird nests rather than hard to access cavities. Also, long-eared owls tendency to occur in quite open areas whilst hunting coupled with the loud vocalizations (including begging calls of their fledglings) and other auditory displays are all likely to court predators.[4][37][41][79][223] In Europe, their most serious predators tend to be the Eurasian eagle-owl and the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). One account recorded 768 instances of predation by eagle-owls and 317 by goshawks (or 55% of the owl prey for recorded for goshawks in Europe).[4][37][79] Long-eared owls rank in the five most regular predated bird species by eagle-owls in Europe.[79][224][225] Some biologists feel that long-eared owls tendency to avoid richer prey concentrations in favor of opener habitats and spatial usage, especially while migrating and wintering, is partial dictated by the detection of eagle-owl (and perhaps goshawk) activity, so therefore the eagle-owl has a serious influence on the long-eared owl's life history.[4][36][43] In general, long-eared owls endure predation by a formidable array of diurnal birds of prey in Europe. It is likely that largely perch hunting raptor such as Buteo and most eagles may either chance upon an owl roost during a hunting foray or encounter a long-eared owl perhaps during overlapping activity around dawn or dusk, while large falcons are likely to only strike one down when an owl is flushed during daytime. Goshawks and other Accipiter hawks are a particularly deadly threat among diurnal raptors due to their intensive searching hunting methods and willingness to dive into wooded thickets holding roosting owls.[37][79][226][227] Beyond goshawks, diurnal raptors in Europe known to be predators of long-eared owls of potentially any age are known to include golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga), lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina), black kite (Milvus migrans), red kite (Milvus milvus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), common buzzard, rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and even (in two cases) the slightly smaller Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).[4][79][228][229][230][231][232][233][234] Other than eagle-owls, tawny owls and Ural owls (Strix uralensis) regularly kill long-eared owls where their ranges meet, though in some cases these may begin as territorial attacks by the Strix owls, the smaller long-eared may be consumed regardless.[4][79]
In North America, the range of predators of long-eared owls is no less daunting. Undoubtedly the most dangerous American predator is the great horned owl. Similarly as in its European eagle-owl counterpart, horned owls kill long-eared owls regardless of season and conditions. However, despite many accounts of predation, long-eared owls do not generally seem to be as prominent in the diet of great horned owls, at least as so far documented, as they are in the diet of Eurasian eagle-owls. Barred owls can also be somewhat serious predators of long-eared owls as well.[85][159][175][235] Rarer acts of predation on long-eared owls in North America have reportedly been committed by spotted owls (Strix occidentalis) and even their cousins, the short-eared owl.[4][236] Diurnal predators of long-eared owls including some species that also hunt them in Europe such as golden eagles, northern goshawks and peregrine falcons, as well as bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus).[13][32][175][237][238][239][240] Though less well documented throughout the range, long-eared owls are also vulnerable to mammalian predators, mainly near the nest. Suspected or confirmed predators in Europe are often European pine martens or stone martens (Martes foina), which are likely to depredate nestlings but also will consume eggs and adults if they are able to ambush them.[213][241][242] Martens are also a potential threat in North America, as are the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) and, especially, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) (the latter species may semi-regularly kill and eat brooding adult female long-eared owls).[13][32][175][240][243][244] Corvids, many of which build the nests long-eared owls use, such as magpies and crows will also semi-regularly raid the long-eared owl's nests and eat the eggs or nestlings.[13][37][32][241] On the other side of the equation, long-eared owls themselves may infrequently prey on smaller owls. This species has been known to hunt eastern screech owls, little owls, Eurasian pygmy owls (Glaucidium passerinum) and boreal owls (Aegolius funereus), as well as the young of the common kestrel.[4][13][79][85][190]
Long-eared owls tend to be monogamous breeders. Non-migratory populations are usually monogamous throughout the year, the pair bond being renewed annually.[8][36] A study in Idaho determined that long-eared owls were locally extremely monogamous, with no extra-pair fertilizations were detected in 59 nestlings from 12 nests.[245] There is a single record of a male breeding with 2 females in Netherlands, a very atypical case.[8] Similarly, evidence of polyandry and alloparenting was found in a nest in western Montana where the four offspring of the female owl had two fathers, one of which was related to the female.[246] Males claim their territory with singing and display flights with wing clapping.[8] Singing normally starts at dusk on calm evenings and may continue through the night, clear windless moonlit nights are preferred. The song is usually delivered from a perch, most often at medium height in trees or from the upper half near the canopy, sometimes in flight.[8][9] Males are responsive to playback during the period leading up to the breeding season (especially during courtship), to such a degree 45% territories would've been undetected in Spain if males has not responded to recordings (as opposed to listening for spontaneous callings).[247] Often between 8 and 50 pairs are recorded in different parts of the range in a typical range of 100 km2 (39 sq mi). In Scotland, about 17% of the 9-18 pairs per 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) were non-breeders.[12] Typical territories for pairs are 50 to 100 ha (0.19 to 0.39 sq mi) in Finland when voles are plentiful. Several pairs may nest rather close together nonetheless. The minimal distance is normally around 50 to 150 m (160 to 490 ft) between active nests, but in Idaho a nearest nest distance of only 16 m (52 ft) was recorded.[8][13][36] When food is abundant, about 10-12 pairs, infrequently as many as 50, may nest within area of 100 km2 (39 sq mi). Pairs may tolerate each other in the same patch of trees while nesting if food supplies are abundant.[8][36] A study in Province of Pisa of Italy of 32 territories found 10-15 pairs per 100 km2 (39 sq mi) with a mean nest spacing of 1,727 m (5,666 ft).[233] In a south-central Idaho study area, pair occurred on average 0.65 km (0.40 mi) apart.[248] The highest densities may come from central Europe. The average density in central Europe is typically around 10-12 pairs per 100 km2 (39 sq mi).[48] However, in Brandenburg, Germany, over a 24-year study, it was found the average density was 72.7 pairs per 100 km2 (39 sq mi).[249] Based on studies from Michigan and Wyoming, anywhere from 10 to 100 pairs per 100 km2 (39 sq mi) was estimated, with the average range in Wyoming riparian habitat about 55 ha (0.21 sq mi).[9][13][82] Densities appeared lower in the Snake River area (0.28-0.42 pairs per square km) than elsewhere in southern Idaho (0.64-1.55 pairs per square km).[9][13] Globally, many pairs of long-eared owl occupy the same territory all year around but most prefer to use a different nest each year even if the same nest as last year is still in good standing. Females typically take on the duty of inspecting potential nesting sites and duets with its mate; perched on a chosen nest, she sings to contact the male, later vocal activity is confined to weak calls only heard at short range.[8][13] During displays, females have also been recorded doing the wing clap display but much less intensely than males.[48] Copulation tends to occur close to the nest. In Germany, it was recorded that the male precedes copulation with calls and display flights, followed by strong waving wing signals and tilting their body while perched near female and/or the nest.[37] Copulation has also been observed on both the ground and the trees, preceded frequently by a duet, a male aerial display which ending in descent to ground and a flight by the female.[13][37] Boundary fights between males are unrecorded in this species.[9] Breeding occurs later in the year than sympatric species such as tawny owls and barn owls perhaps due to their more strongly migratory ways. Rarely mating may occur early as February in cooler temperate areas, but the pairs copulations usually take place in March or April.[4] Winter breeding detected as new juveniles of 14–18 days of age were recorded in early February in Slovakia. Other prior reports of winter breeding are known from Italy, in two cases, as well as in the Czech Republic.[250][251]
Normally nests in stick nest of large birds, i.e. Corvus, Pica, raptors and Ardea herons. Other nest builders in Europe can often include common wood pigeons and Eurasian sparrowhawks.[8][36] In Britain and Finland 84% of 239 and 85 nest were made by carrion (Corvus corone) or hooded crows (Corvus cornix) and Eurasian magpies. In England and Finland, 77% and 66% of the nest were in conifers, respectively.[14][37] In Brandenburg, Germany, 90% of the nest were built by carrion crows and most were in Pinus sylvestris.[249] In different studies of Idaho, nearly all known nests were in old corvid nests (most being in juniper). In one large study, nest heights, which averaged 3.2 m (10 ft), and diameter of the nest construction, which averaged 22.3 cm (8.8 in), were deemed likely to be the most significant criteria for nest selection.[13][167][248] In Ontario, conifers were usually used, often Pinus or Juniperus, in corvid nests between 2.5 and 18.5 m (8.2 and 60.7 ft) high, but mostly between 5.5 and 9 m (18 and 30 ft).[83] Nest height averaged 6.7 m (22 ft) in Great Britain.[14] In Slovenia, long-eared owls preferred coniferous trees for breeding (in almost exclusively corvid nests), those that nested in deciduous trees had higher nest mortality especially earlier in the season due to higher predation rates.[241] Similarly, nest site selection was largely correlated to predation risk in Spain, with ivy and tree canopy coverage less important than high scrub cover from below, in part because terrestrial predators were more common in the particular study area than aerial ones.[252] In northeast Switzerland, nesting location are selected for anti-predator features, among 38 nesting sites, the ones seemingly preferred bore denser forest edges, greater canopy cover and were within conifers much more so than were prevalent in the overall environment, while the vicinities of buildings were avoided in the study area.[213] An unusual case of urban breeding long-eared owls was observed in Moscow, Russia, where a loose colony was observed to form. The Moscow nesting was thought to be the result of synanthropization by the owls, in part due to lower predation risk in the urban areas versus rural vicinities (where predation was 6.6% higher). The mean distance of nesting owls in Moscow was 603 m (1,978 ft) whereas it was more than twice the distance in nearby rural areas.[253] Tree nests are usually under 30 m (98 ft) above the ground, and can sometimes be so small that the wings and tail of brooding female may be visible from below.[36] More infrequently than avian tree nests, leaf nests of tree squirrels, hawk nests in cacti and cliff nests of various birds may be used.[13][14][32][254] While they usually take up already abandoned nest sites, sometimes long-eared owls are capable of chasing off prior occupant of nest even including other raptors (extending to fierce Accipiters such as sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and even larger Cooper's hawks) indicative of their potential for fierceness and tenacity.[4] Other than other bird's nests, alternate nesting sites have been used but appear to be usually rare or uncommon. Among these, are shallow depressions on the ground.[8][32][85] Some ground nest locations recorded (in Europe) have included among heather, bracken and bramble, and even on reed beds, rabbit warrens. Some nests have been recorded in wicker baskets placed in trees for ducks.[4][14][255][256][257] In North America, pairs of ground nest were found in each west-central Montana and in Okavagan, British Columbia, in all cases between the roots of or the ground immediate adjacent to the base of trees or bushes (with two other historic records of ground nesting in North America).[175][258] Artificial nesting platforms made of twigs for the owls are also locally accepted. In Woodwalton Fen reserve of eastern England, 71 nests were built in wicker baskets set out for owls.[259] Also in Yizre'el in Israel, 6 of 16 nest baskets hung in Eucalyptus were used by long-eared owls, with all occupied by February. In this general area of Israel, at least 72 other nest baskets for long-eared owls have been set out, to encourage the rodent controlling birds.[260] Exceptionally, long-eared owls have nested in shallow cavities, in hollow willows or oaks, tree stumps or holes in cliffsides, however as a rule they tend to not be cavity nesters.[4][261] 6.5% of 153 nests in Great Britain were on natural surfaces (mostly the ground) rather than animal nests.[14] Nesting vicinities where previous attempts were successful are more likely to be reused, i.e. in Idaho where 48% of prior nesting areas were reused after successful attempts.[9][13]
Egg-laying is between normally between late March and early May in most of the range. Egg laying dates in the northeastern United States, in a sample of 42 eggs, were between March 14 and May 30. Additional records in southern Canada show laying as occurring at as late as June 5.[9][85] 43 eggs in Ontario were laid between March 19 to May 24, more than half between April 15 and May 5.[83] In northern Italy, the mean egg laying date was March 27.[233] Exceptional eggs were recorded as early as December 31 to January 3 in Spain.[262] Re-nesting can occur within about 20 days after a clutch is lost.[85] In Europe up to two broods have been successfully been raised at times of food abundance.[9][37] Generally the female lays 3-5 eggs (sometimes more if food is unusually abundant). Larger clutches are typical further north in the range.[8][9] Record sized clutches have been recorded for Europe of up to 8 eggs in Sweden in years of a “vole plague” while record sized clutches worldwide were recorded of 10–11 in the Kazan area of Russia in similar conditions.[4][36][68] In Great Britain, the average clutch size was recorded as 3.9 while in Germany it was 5.5 and, similarly, in Slovenia it was 5.6.[14][263][264] In a study from Montana, the mean clutch size was 5.[265] The pure white eggs are 40.2 mm × 32.5 mm (1.58 in × 1.28 in) on average in both North America and central Europe and weight about 23 g (0.81 oz).[8][85][266] At 1-5 day intervals (on average 2), the eggs are laid on the bottom of nesting area. A clutch of 7 eggs takes 10 to 11 days to lay.[8][9] Incubation begins with the first egg and continues for about 27–28 days (in extreme cases from about 21 to 30 days).[8][9][174] The female alone incubates while the male provides food, which is brought direct to nest. She may leave the nest early on to feed but does so much less later into incubation.[8][9] A study in Montana found that corticosterone levels were considerably higher in adults of both sexes during the breeding season than during the non-breeding season, suggesting that the breeding season is more stressful on the owls.[267]
The young hatch at 2 day intervals at any point between very late April and June.[4][174] The average weight of 52 hatchlings in Montana was 18.4 g (0.65 oz).[265] Their eyes open at 5–7 days (averaging 6.4 days in Montana) and they are brooded by the mother for about 2 weeks, often while the male perches nearby and watches over. The female alone feeds the chicks. In Idaho, the male was recorded to 2.5 times more prey deliveries during nesting than did the female.[8][99][265] Injury feigning displays have been recorded at the nestling stage as an anti-predation measure.[8][9][64] Usually long-eared owls are less bold in nest defense than some other owls, Strix owls for example, but they are capable of fierce protective attack nonetheless. Nesting defense by parents increased in Italy further into breeding season, with older nestlings being defended more vigorously. Females do a majority of nest defenses. Owl pairs incurring higher levels of regular disturbance are more likely to have a milder nest defense.[4][99] During a defensive display, the parent ruffles up their plumage and partially spreads the wings to half open, trampling from one foot to the other, hissing and bill snapping and can look surprisingly large in this posture. If a perceived threat continues towards the owls, they may leap up and try to rake and grab at the threat with their talons. Even animals as large as humans may find themselves the victim of long-eared owl defensive attacks if they approach or, especially, if they climb up to a nest.[9][36] The young leave the nest at 20–27 days of age (average about 22 days) but are initially flightless, often climbing about surrounding branches. At this stage they may be referred to as "branchers".[8][264][265] Quite often the young fall to the ground, but they are usually able to climb back up using their claws and bill with heavy wing flapping. At dusk the begging branchers call to their parents with high pitched notes to indicate their location. At about 35–37 days, they are fully fledged and can fly well, but they often follow their parents and are fed by them for up to about 2 months, continuing to make high pitched calls.[8][9][265] In Slovenia, independence was gained about 50–80 days after hatching, while in Idaho it was about 45 to 56 days.[99][268]
Normally in North America the species produces one clutch per year, but 2 clutches in a year have been recorded in high vole years.[8] An exceptional double brood was recorded in Idaho due to high food availability, allowing the pair to successfully raise all 11 nestlings to fledgling, while in same season 3 other females in same grove were able to produce an average of 5.3 fledglings in their single broods.[269] Like other species using open nests, rather than enclosed cavities, the species has relatively short fledging period and quickly moves away from the dangerous situation of the nest site.[36] Nesting success averaged 46% between two study years in a study of 112 nests in Idaho with raccoon predation considered the most serious cause of nesting failure.[13] A different Idaho study of 24 nests showed that the owls fledged an average of 3.7 young per nest.[248] In Montana, the mean number hatched per nest was 3.8 and mean number to have fledged per nest was approximately 2.2.[265] 59% of 78 nesting attempts failed in Britain, with an average clutch size per successful pair of 3.91 to 4.53. 41 of 78 continuously monitored in this British study nest successfully produced 1 or more fledglings.[14] In another British study, of 58 monitored pairs over 4 years, 83% laid eggs, 63% hatched one or more young, and 57% fledged young, with an average of 3.2 young fledged per successful nest.[12] In yet another English study, this time exclusively of owls using wicker baskets, 50.7% of 71 attempts managed to fledge young. Among the wicker basket users, earlier nesters (i.e. March-early April) raised larger broods and had more fledglings than later (late April-early May), in part due to rising water tables making prey capture less ideal later in nesting season.[259] For 6 pairs of long-eared owls using wicker baskets in Israel, the mean brood size was 3.6 and mean number of young owls to leave the nest was 3.[260] At all stages and in all regions, reproduction tends to be more successful when prey populations are higher.[12][14] In continental Europe, conditions are better than in England or Finland, perhaps due to the large population of common voles there that are absent in the more northerly countries, and nesting success averages higher.[9][14][37] However, breeding success still is reliant on prey populations. In an 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi) area of southern Germany, one cold spring with few voles no breeding pairs were found. A year later, with a warm spring and many voles, 19 breeding pairs took up residence in the study area.[263] First year mortality of long-eared owls has been calculated in Germany as 52% and 31%.[73] In Brandenburg, Germany, of 867 breeding attempts, 36.6% (335) pairs were successful in raising 1,468 young, which equates to 1.57 fledgling per all pairs that attempted, 4.31 per successful pair. The Brandenburg data shows that after 1990, when conservation minded farming initiative began, numbers increased significantly. Also in Brandenburg, in one case, 2 successive females to the same male were killed, the male mate was able to pair with a third female and resulting in a late successful fledging (August 24).[249] In Slovenia, as studied between 1984 and 1993, of 79 nests, 32 (40%) produced young, 37 (47%) failed completely, and 10 (12%) failed after hatching. The Slovenian average number of owls hatched was 2.4 per nest (5.3 per successful nest) and the average number of owls fledged was 1.6 per nest (3.9 per successful nest).[264] In Pisa, Italy, long-eared owl pairs produced a mean of 0.95 per territorial pair and 2.13 per successful pair.[233] In central Slovenia, 57 nests produced an average of 5.7 eggs per clutch. Of the 51 fledged owls, 31 died in the study, 22 of which were due to mammal and bird predation, 6 due to starvation, 2 due to road collisions and 1 drowned in ditch.[264] In Britain, the most common diagnosed cause of nest failure was egg theft by humans (accounting for 28.2% of 46 failed nests).[14] Banding studies show that the long-eared owl typically have a short lifespan, with more than 91% of 105 owls recovered in North America of determined age being 4 years or younger. The oldest recorded in these efforts was banded in New York and recovered in Ontario at the age of 11 years and 4 months. Another one may have been over 15 years old, however.[100] One exceptional isolated record is known of a European long-eared owl of just under 28 years of age.[8][48] Annual survivorship in Germany and Switzerland for adults is 69%.[73]
The long-eared owl is rather common and widespread in many regions. With a range of 80 million square kilometers, it is easily one of the most widely found owls. The IUCN estimates the total population between 2 million and 5.5 million, placing it as one of the most numerous owls beyond the wider ranging barn owl and less wide-ranging little owl (both likely between 5 and 10 million total birds) and roughly equaling the total population of great horned owls.[1][270] The long-eared owl is more numerous than its more scarce but more wide-ranging cousin, the short-eared owl, with the peak number possible of short-ears roughly equivalent to the minimum number of long-ears.[1] Their range of limit for breeding is typically in Mediterranean type arid, hot climates, where terrestrial insects and reptiles may prevail over small, sociable rodents, the long-eared owl is cut-off, whereas these are peak areas for barn owls. In the north, it is scarce to absent in areas of the deep boreal forest and the treeless northern areas such as around large wetland bogs or lower tundra, where the short-eared owl tends to supplant them.[4][8] Densities of populations depend on availability of food. Local threats are typically pesticides and persecution. Out of myth and ignorance, this species has long been persecuted by humans.[8][36] In many areas, some humans may carelessly shoot at any crow-like nest in order to destroy the contents, out of resentment for the crow's perception as a pest.[8] In North America, hunters historically often shot long-eared owls as all owls were badly persecuted. Even though it was perceived early in the 20th century that the species is actually beneficial to human interests, many hunters continued to shoot them, claiming that they represent young individuals of the then nationally despised great horned owl.[85][159][240] Largely in correlation with persecution, long-eared owls were recorded as formerly abundant and then rare in North America in the early 20th century.[271] Long-eared owls potentially face lethal contamination with heavy metals such as mercury, organic biocides, including insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides and PCBs recorded. Pesticides seem to affect the species less than those predators with more varied diets and those that eat carrion.[4] High levels of contamination were found in long-eared owl pellets in Serbia, with the concentrations of pollutants in prey that are sourced from industrial and agricultural practices in the region.[272] Like many birds, they may be vulnerable to helminths, which are probably underrated as a potential source of mortality.[273][274] Other parasites and mites may reduce health of populations.[4][275] West Nile virus and Salmonella have been the recorded source of mortality for some long-eared owls.[276][277] Anticoagulants may also threaten this species.[278] In the Canary islands, it has become increasingly scarce due to loss of habitat.[4] Many long-eared owls are also killed by road traffic. High owl mortality was particularly noted along roadways in France, especially due to common vole being numerous in roadside areas. It was proposed that letting vegetation grow may mitigate some mortalities.[279] During 1963–1995, of 128 dead long-eared owls found in England, 89 were females and 34 were males; 61% turned had died from collisions (40% from those with vehicles). In this study from England, high levels of DDE (metabolite of DDT) and HEOD found in long-eared owls prior to 1977, similar levels to those seen in falcons there, lessened in later samples but 2 birds still had fatal levels of pesticide contamination.[280] In areas such as Switzerland, to offset persecution and increase survival as well as to allow observers to watch them more easily, wintering owls in towns and cities were fed daily white lab mice.[48] Breeding can be promoted by artificial platforms of twigs in bushes or trees. Also augmented feeding may ensure survival during low food winters.[8] An attempt to release captive raised long-eared owls in the wild in Italy was largely unsuccessful. Of these, 3 of 8 owls seemed to disperse successfully while the others died or disappeared, while 8 tawny owls released all but 1 seemed to successfully disperse.[281] The species has actually increased in Iran, rising from 25 records over 12 decades to 49 records in two decades (between late 70s and 1997). Breeding was confirmed in up to 12 regions for the Persian breeding population and between 1997-2014 there were 32 non-breeding and 17 breeding records.[282]
In southern California (San Diego county and Orange county), long-eared owls are thought to have lost more than 55% of their range due to habitat alterations.[240] A decreasing trend has been observed in wintering owls in New Jersey, with 9 of 58 known roosts entirely eliminated due to land development, while the remaining 49 have shown reductions or are no longer used over the course of 30 years. Land use changes and habitat destruction accounts for reduced habitat quality and lower vole populations, with more adaptable raptors such as great horned owls and hawks exploiting much of what remains to the detriment of long-eared owls.[283] A similar reduction was noted over 20 years in Pennsylvania.[284] Broader studies of banding across Canada, gathered during long-term monitoring from consistent annual bird counts from 1966–1992, showed that long-eared owls have declined relatively significantly. A net total 0.98% decline was recorded over the survey time. This was considered the second greatest reduction behind short-eared owl and burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). Furthermore, among the 19 raptors surveyed in Canada, these 3 owls showed the most declining trends. The long-eared owl was apparently the most scarce of the 6 sub-boreal owl species surveyed. A similar trend has been detected throughout North America with a very large net 1.6% reduction overall during Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), again making it the most severe decline for an owl behind only the short-eared owl and the two related owl species seemed to have had the most severe declines of all 28 raptor species mentioned in these CBC surveys.[18]
John James Audubon illustrated the "Long-eared Owl - Strix otus" as Plate 383 in Birds of America, published London, 1827–38. The print was engraved by Robert Havell in 1837. The original watercolour was purchased from Audubon's destitute widow by The New York History Society where it remained until 9/11, when it was destroyed.
The long-eared owl (Asio otus), also known as the northern long-eared owl or, more informally, as the lesser horned owl or cat owl, is a medium-sized species of owl with an extensive breeding range. The scientific name is from Latin. The genus name Asio is a type of eared owl, and otus also refers to a small, eared owl. The species breeds in many areas through Europe and the Palearctic, as well as in North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, of the family Strigidae, which contains most extant species of owl (while the other taxonomic family of owls are the barn owls, or Tytonidae).
This owl shows a partiality for semi-open habitats, particularly woodland edge, as they prefer to roost and nest within dense stands of wood but prefer to hunt over open ground. The long-eared owl is a somewhat specialized predator, focusing its diet almost entirely on small rodents, especially voles, which quite often compose most of their diet. Under some circumstances, such as population cycles of their regular prey, arid or insular regional habitats or urbanization, this species can adapt fairly well to a diversity of prey, including birds and insects. All owls do not build their own nests. In the case of the long-eared owl, it generally utilizes nests that are built by other animals, with a partiality in many regions for those built by corvids. Breeding success in this species is largely correlated with prey populations and predation risks. Unlike many owls, long-eared owls are not strongly territorial or sedentary. They are partially migratory and, although owls appear to generally use the same migratory routes and wintering sites annually, can tend to appear so erratically that they are sometimes characterized as “nomadic”. Another fairly unique characteristic of this species is its partiality for regular roosts that are often shared by a number of long-eared owls at once. The long-eared owl is one of the most widely distributed and most numerous owl species in the world, and due to its very broad range and numbers it is considered a least concern species by the IUCN. Nonetheless, strong declines have been detected for this owl in several parts of its range.
La orelstrigo (Asio otus) estas ĉefe holarktisa birdo kiu apartenas al la strigedoj. Ĝi estas unu de la plej oftaj strigoj en Eŭropo. Krome la specio loĝas en centra Azio ekde Rusio laŭ horizontala zono tra Mongolio al Japanio, en Ameriko en Usono kaj suda Kanado kaj en izolitaj disaj lokoj de centrorienta Afriko.
La orelstrigo estas ĉirkaŭ 36 cm longa kaj la enverguro mezuras ĉirkaŭ 95 cm. Vira orelstrigo estas inter 220 kaj 280 gramojn peza, ina inter 250 kaj 370 gramojn. Inoj estas ankaŭ iom pli malhelaj. La grandaj nigrecaj plumoreloj estas rimarkindaj, sed tute ne servas al plibonigo de la aŭdkapablo, ĉar ili ne rilatas al oreloj. Tion vere faras la plumoj kiuj ĉirkaŭas la vizaĝon.
La iriso de la orelstrigo estas brile oranĝflava. La vizaĝo estas dividita per rimarkinda fruntplumaro. La flugiloj estas relative mallarĝaj. La bruneca plumaro de la orelstrigo estas vertikale striita. La tarsoj kaj fingroj estas entute kovritaj de plumoj. La okuloj estas karakteraj en tiuj specioj. Tamen, la okuldisko de A. otus estas pli malhelaj aŭ eĉ ruĝoranĝaj. Tiu nokta specio estas eble pli facile vidata ripozanta en arbo dum sia taga ripoztempo.
La reprodukta sezono de la orelstrigo estas de februaro al julio. Tiu birdo estas parte migranta, translokiĝante suden vintre el pli nordaj partoj de sia mezvarma teritorio. Ties habitato estas arbaro proksime de malferma kamparo.
Ĝi nestumas en arboj, ofte koniferoj, uzante uzitajn nestojn el branĉetoj de aliaj birdoj kiel kornikoj, korvoj kaj pigoj kaj diversaj akcipitroj. La mezaveraĝa ovodemetado estas de 4-6 ovoj, kaj la kovado mezaveraĝe daŭras 25-30 tagojn. La specio pretas uzi artefaritajn nestokestojn. Malkutima karaktero de tiu specio estas la komuna nestumado en arbustejoj dum la vintraj monatoj.
La orelstrigo ĉasas ĉe malferma kamparo dumnokte. Ĝi estas tre longflugila, kiel la simila marĉostrigo, kaj glitas malrapide per rektecaj flugiloj dumĉase. La manĝaĵoj estas ĉefe roduloj, etaj mamuloj, kaj birdoj.
La orelstrigo (Asio otus) estas ĉefe holarktisa birdo kiu apartenas al la strigedoj. Ĝi estas unu de la plej oftaj strigoj en Eŭropo. Krome la specio loĝas en centra Azio ekde Rusio laŭ horizontala zono tra Mongolio al Japanio, en Ameriko en Usono kaj suda Kanado kaj en izolitaj disaj lokoj de centrorienta Afriko.
El búho chico (Asio otus) es una especie de ave estrigiforme de la familia Strigidae.
Es de gran tamaño y bastante común en el sur y el centro de Europa. Habita en bosques de coníferas cerca de zonas de cultivos, en ocasiones en la alta montaña. Por el día puede ser visto durmiendo en grupos en pinos altos, aunque se camufla muy bien. Se parece un poco al búho campestre, este último es menos rechoncho y ligeramente más grande. El búho chico tiene grandes mechones sobre la cabeza que parecen orejas, la parte ventral de color crema y muy listada, los ojos de color naranja o rojo, puntas grises en las alas, la cola con unas franjas poco marcadas y un par de manchas oscuras sobre las "muñecas". Sale solo de noche.
Su voz es un reclamo profundo, corto y apagado tipo huh. También puede hacer chasquidos con el pico para asustar a los enemigos o proferir una especie de maullidos.
Utiliza el nido de un córvido o ardilla. Pone de 3 a 5 huevos en una nidada de marzo a junio.
Caza fundamentalmente roedores como ratones, ratas y en menor medida aves e insectos. Expulsa dos egagrópilas al día por término medio, una en el lugar de descanso durante el día y la otra mientras caza.
El búho chico (Asio otus) es una especie de ave estrigiforme de la familia Strigidae.
Es de gran tamaño y bastante común en el sur y el centro de Europa. Habita en bosques de coníferas cerca de zonas de cultivos, en ocasiones en la alta montaña. Por el día puede ser visto durmiendo en grupos en pinos altos, aunque se camufla muy bien. Se parece un poco al búho campestre, este último es menos rechoncho y ligeramente más grande. El búho chico tiene grandes mechones sobre la cabeza que parecen orejas, la parte ventral de color crema y muy listada, los ojos de color naranja o rojo, puntas grises en las alas, la cola con unas franjas poco marcadas y un par de manchas oscuras sobre las "muñecas". Sale solo de noche.
Su voz es un reclamo profundo, corto y apagado tipo huh. También puede hacer chasquidos con el pico para asustar a los enemigos o proferir una especie de maullidos.
Utiliza el nido de un córvido o ardilla. Pone de 3 a 5 huevos en una nidada de marzo a junio.
Caza fundamentalmente roedores como ratones, ratas y en menor medida aves e insectos. Expulsa dos egagrópilas al día por término medio, una en el lugar de descanso durante el día y la otra mientras caza.
Nombre en otros idiomas: long-eared owl (inglés), mussol banyut o brúfol comú (catalán/valenciano), hontza ertain (euskera), bufo pequeño (gallego). Longitud: de 35 a 37 cm Envergadura: de 84 a 95 cm Peso: 210-330 g Longevidad: de 10 a 15 años Estatus: seguroKõrvukräts (varem ka kõrvukas räts) (Asio otus) on kaklaste sugukonda rätsu perekonda kuuluv lind.
Kõrvukrätsu keha üldpikkus on 35–39 cm, tiibade siruulatus 86–100 cm. Tiiva pikkus on 27,5–32 cm, kaal 240–330 g. Emaslind on isasest pisut suurem.[1]
Sulestikult on isas- ja emaslind sarnased. Nende ülapool on ookrikarva tumepruunide triipude ja peente põiktähnidega. Õlgadel ja tiibade kattesulgedel on valgeid laike. Hoosuled on kollakad hallikate tippude ja pruuni põikmustriga, tüürsuled roostekarva taustal olevate tumepruunide vöötide ja peente tähnidega. Keha alapool on ruuge, ookrivärvi või valkjas, sellel on laiad pikivöödid ja kitsad tumepruunid vöödid. Tal on sihvakas keha, suhteliselt nõrk nokk ja nõrgad jalad, pikad tiivad ja pikk saba ning eriti pikad sulgkõrvad. Varbad on kuni küünisteni sulis. Nokk ja küünised on mustad, vikerkest kollane või oranž.[1]
Kõrvukrätsu levila asub Euraasias okasmetsade vööndist kuni vahemerelise vööndini, Põhja-Aafrika metsaaladel, Kanaari saartel ning Põhja-Ameerika metsa- ja preeriavööndis. Leviala põhjapiir ulatub kõrgetüvelise metsa piirini, sealhulgas Kesk-Skandinaaviasse. Idas ulatub levila Ohhoota mere, Primorje ja Hokkaidoni, lõunas Iraagi, Kesk-Aasia ja Himaalajani.[1]
Eestis on kõrvukräts üsna ühtlaselt levinud, ent väikesearvuline haudelind. Enamasti on vanalinnud paiksed, noored rändavad talveks lõuna poole.[1] Kõrvukrätsu pesitsusaegset arvukust hinnatakse 500–4000 paarile, talvist arvukust 100–400 isendile [2].
Elupaigana eelistab okas- ja segametsi, väiksemaid metsatukkasid põldude vahel, suuremaid okaspuudega parke. Tegutseb öösel, harvem videvikus. Põhiliselt paigalind, osa isendeid liigub sügisel lõuna suunas.
Kõrvukräts pesitseb puu otsas varese, haraka, kaelustuvi või orava mahajäetud pesas, harvem puuõõnes, üksnes erandjuhtudel maapinnal[1]. Pesas on 4–5, headel hiireaastatel 7–9 muna[1] ja kurn on täis aprillis. Haudeaeg kestab 25–30 päeva. Pojad kooruvad mai keskpaigas. Kuuvanuselt pojad lennuvõimestuvad ja lahkuvad pesast[1]. Suured vanusevahed pesakonnas soodustavad kannibalismi.
Näriliste mass-sigimise aastail on täheldatud, et kõrvukräts pesitseb sügisel teist korda.[1]
Kõrvukräts toitub hiirtest, oravatest, karihiirtest, rästastest ja üldse väikestest värvulistest, nahkhiirtest ja suurtest sitikatest. Põhiosa tema toidust moodustavad siiski närilised, lindudel on tema toidus teisejärguline tähtsus, aga muud selgroogsed, näiteks konnad, sisalikud ja putukad esinevad toidus vaid juhuslikult.[1]
Vaenlasteks on kõrvukrätsule suured kakulised, pistrikulised ja nugis. Hiirevaestel lumerohketel talvedel hukkub neid teinekord päris hulgaliselt, mis veenvalt näitab nende paigalist eluviisi.[3]
Kõrvukräts on koos kõigi teiste kakulistega olnud Eestis looduskaitse all.[4]
Kõrvukräts (varem ka kõrvukas räts) (Asio otus) on kaklaste sugukonda rätsu perekonda kuuluv lind.
Kõrvukrätsu keha üldpikkus on 35–39 cm, tiibade siruulatus 86–100 cm. Tiiva pikkus on 27,5–32 cm, kaal 240–330 g. Emaslind on isasest pisut suurem.
Sulestikult on isas- ja emaslind sarnased. Nende ülapool on ookrikarva tumepruunide triipude ja peente põiktähnidega. Õlgadel ja tiibade kattesulgedel on valgeid laike. Hoosuled on kollakad hallikate tippude ja pruuni põikmustriga, tüürsuled roostekarva taustal olevate tumepruunide vöötide ja peente tähnidega. Keha alapool on ruuge, ookrivärvi või valkjas, sellel on laiad pikivöödid ja kitsad tumepruunid vöödid. Tal on sihvakas keha, suhteliselt nõrk nokk ja nõrgad jalad, pikad tiivad ja pikk saba ning eriti pikad sulgkõrvad. Varbad on kuni küünisteni sulis. Nokk ja küünised on mustad, vikerkest kollane või oranž.
Hontz ertaina (Asio otus) strigidae familiako hegazti harraparia da[1].
Hegazti hau sasi-migratzailea da, neguan hegoalderantz jotzen badu ere ez da urrunera joaten. Europa, Asia eta Ipar Amerikako basoetan, tartean Euskal Herrikoetan, bizi da.
Hontz ertaina Ipar Hemisferioko ia lurralde osoan hedaturik dagoen harrapari gautarra da, ugaria, eta kontserbazio arazo berezirik ez duena. Identifikatzeko erraza da buruaren gainaldean dituen belarri-xerlo handiei erreparatuz gero. Euskal Herriko lurralde guztian aurki daiteke, era guztietako habitatetan, herri eta hiri handietako parkeetan barne. Ugaztun txikiez elikatu ohi da.
Tamaina ertaineko hontza da, 35-40 cm-ko luzerakoa, eta ia metro bateko hego-zabalera izatera iritsi daitekeena. 150-430 g bitarteko pisua izan ohi du eta emeak arrak baino handiagoak dira, orokorrean. Espezie honen morfologia ezaugarritzen duen bereizgarri nagusia begien gainean dituen belarri-xerlo handiak dira. Bizkarraldean lumaiak kolorazio arre-marroia du, eta sabelaldea krema-horixka izan ohi da marra marroi bertikalduna. Aurpegi-diskoa arrea da eta begien arteko zonaldea zurixeagoa. Tartsoa eta atzaparrak lumaz hornituak izan ohi ditu.
Lau subespezie deskribatu dira; nominala, Asio otus otus, Eurasia guztian hedaturik dagoena, Ipar Amerikan aurki daitezkeen A. otus tuftsi eta A. otus wilsonianus subespezieak, eta Kanariar Uharteetako subespezie endemikoa A. otus canariensis.
Antzeko espeziea zingira-hontza (Asio flammeus) du. Antzekotasun morfologiko nabarmena duten arren, zingira-hontza Euskal Herrian ez da batere ohikoa, eta oso zita gutxi ezagutzen dira lurraldearen hegoaldean, negukoak batez ere. Zingira-hontzak ez du hontz ertainaren moduko belarri-xerlorik. Hegoetako lumajean ere badira aldeak; nabarmenena, ziurrenik, zingira-hontzaren hegoen aurre-ertza zuria izan ohi dela da.
Ipar Hemisferioan banaketa zirkunpolarra du, eta Europan, Afrika Iparraldean, Asian eta Ipar Amerikan aurki daiteke. Banaketaren iparraldean; Eskandinavian, Siberian eta Kanadan, udan bakarrik aurki daiteke, eta banaketaren hegoaldean, aldiz, neguan soilik. Tarteko populazioek migrazioak egin ditzaketen arren, urte osoan aurki daitezke hontz ertainak eremu horretan.
Iberiar penintsula osoan bizi da espeziea, eta Euskal Herriko eremu guztian aurki daiteke, hegoaldean ikusteko errazagoa den arren.
Askotariko inguruneetan bizi den hegaztia da. Habia koniferoen basoetan ezarri ohi duen arren, ingurune irekietan ehizatzen du, eta landazabal mediterraneoan eta ingurune sastrakatsuetan ohikoa da. Itsas mailatik 2.750 metroraino topatu den espeziea da.[2]
Ugaztun txikiek osatzen dute espezie honen dietaren zati handiena, saguak, arratoiak eta satitsuak eskuarki irensten baititu. Iluntasun ia totalean ehizatzeko gai da, eta horretarako batez ere entzumena erabiltzen duela uste da.[3]
Habia egiteko beste hegazti espezie batzuek utzitako egiturak erabiltzen ditu normalean, belabeltzek, erroiek edo mikek egindakoak, esaterako; baina zuhaitzetako zuloetan ere gorde daiteke. Emeek 4-6 arrautza erruten dituzte udaberri inguruan eta 25-30 egunez inkubatzen dituzte arrautzok txitoak jaio aurretik. Emeak arduratzen dira kumeen zaintzaz eta arrek eramaten dute jatekoa habiara. Hainbat kasutan, txitoak hegan egiteko gai izan aurretik habiatik irten eta zuhaitzaren inguruko behe-landaredian ezkutatuta mantentzen dira.[2] Txitoek 35 egun ingururen buruan lortzen dute hegan egitea, baina hainbat astez euren gurasoek lortutako janariarekin elikatzen dira.
Heldutasun sexuala urtebete ingururekin lortzen dute, eta naturan 27 urte arte bizi izan den animaliarik ezagutu izan da.[2]
Orokorrean espezie monogamoa da, nahiz eta portaera poligamoak ere deskribatu diren.[3]
Hainbat populazio sedentarioak dira, banaketa eremuaren erdialdean kokaturikoak, orokorrean. Banaketaren ertzetakoak, aldiz, migratzaileak izan ohi dira. Europako hainbat populaziok, esaterako, Egipton igarotzen dute negua.[2] Neguan hainbat alez osaturiko kabi komunalak ere ikusi izan dira.[3]
Ez da espezie bakar bat beraren oinarrizko harrapakina.
Espeziearen izaera kosmopolita eta banaketa zabala dela eta, kontserbazio-arazo berezirik ez duen espezietzat jotzen da. Espeziearen egoera onaren erakusle, Europan 380.000-810.000 bikote estimatu dira, eta milioi bat aletik gora.[4]
Hontz ertaina (Asio otus) strigidae familiako hegazti harraparia da.
Hegazti hau sasi-migratzailea da, neguan hegoalderantz jotzen badu ere ez da urrunera joaten. Europa, Asia eta Ipar Amerikako basoetan, tartean Euskal Herrikoetan, bizi da.
Hontz ertaina Ipar Hemisferioko ia lurralde osoan hedaturik dagoen harrapari gautarra da, ugaria, eta kontserbazio arazo berezirik ez duena. Identifikatzeko erraza da buruaren gainaldean dituen belarri-xerlo handiei erreparatuz gero. Euskal Herriko lurralde guztian aurki daiteke, era guztietako habitatetan, herri eta hiri handietako parkeetan barne. Ugaztun txikiez elikatu ohi da.
Sarvipöllö (Asio otus) on pienen huuhkajan näköinen, Suomessa rauhoitettu pöllölaji.
Pystyt "sarvet" eli kaksi pään päällä sijaitsevaa höyhentupsua ovat erinomainen tuntomerkki. Joskus se kuitenkin taivuttaa sarvensa päätä vasten. Samannäköiseen suopöllöön ovat eroina mm. punaiset silmät, lennossa viirukas vatsapuoli, siiven takareunasta puuttuu valkoinen reunus ja pyrstön tummat juovat ovat kapeita. Sarvipöllön pituus on noin 31–37 cm, siipiväli 90–100 cm ja paino: 250–400 grammaa.
Sen ääni on noin kolmen sekunnin tasaisin välein toistuva matala ”huu”-ääni. Varoitusääniä ovat nokan naputtelu ja erilaiset käheät vinkunat sekä haukkumiset. Kesällä poikueet on helppo löytää, sillä ne kerjäävät öisin kimeästi vinkuen.
Vanhin suomalainen rengastettu sarvipöllö on ollut 17 vuotta 8 kuukautta ja 24 päivää vanha. Se on samalla Euroopan vanhin sarvipöllö.
Koiraan ääni on heikko, nenäsointinen toistettu "peh-uv". Varoitusääni on kiihkeä, nasaali "vräk, vräk-vräk". Sarvipöllön laulu sarja on yksiosaista, hyvin matalia "uh" huhuiluja, jotka toistuvat 2½ sekunnin välein. Aluksi hiljaa, sitten hieman täyteläisempänä. Ääni kuuluu ½-1 km:n päähän (hiljainen osuus vain 200 m). Toisinaan pariskunta esiintyy duettona.
Poikasten kerjuuääni on hyvin voimakas, "sydäntäsärkevä", kaksiosainen ja lopussa laskeva, venytetty, valittava "pii-eh", joka kuuluu yli 1 km:n päähän.
Vanhat sarvipöllöt ovat suhteellisen äänettömiä.
Pesii Tornio–Kuusamo-linjalle saakka. Pesivien lintujen määrä vaihtelee vuosittain hyvin paljon. Hyvänä myyrävuotena meillä pesii n. 10 000 paria, huonona vain n. 2 000. Euroopassa pesii noin 200 000 paria, joista 2 000 – 7 000 Britteinsaarilla. Sarvipöllö pesii laajalla alueella: Länsi-Euroopasta Kiinaan ja Pohjois-Amerikassa.
Havupuuvaltaisen metsänreunan tai metsäsaaren pesimälintu. Hyvänä vuotena pesii kaikenlaisissa metsissä peltojen ja rantojen äärellä. Vanha variksen pesä on sille mieleinen pesäpaikka.
Pesii tavallisesti vanhassa variksen tai harakan pesässä. Muninta alkaa usein jo maaliskuussa, pääosa aloittaa huhtikuun puolimaissa. Naaras munii yleensä 4–6 valkoista munaa, joita se hautoo n. 4 viikkoa. Koiras ruokkii naarasta haudonnan aikana. Poikasia ruokkivat molemmat emot. Ne lähtevät kiipeilemään pesäpuun oksille 3-viikkoisina, ennen kuin ovat lentokykyisiä, ja oppivat lentämään 4-viikkoisina.
Sarvipöllö syö lähes pelkästään pikkujyrsijöitä, pääasiassa peltomyyriä ja metsähiiriä. Lintuja ravinnosta on vain pieni osa.
Asio otus
Le Hibou moyen-duc[a] (Asio otus) est une espèce de rapaces nocturnes de la famille des strigidés, peuplant l'Europe, l'Asie et l'Amérique du Nord.
Avec ses 35 cm de long environ, le moyen-duc est légèrement plus petit et plus menu que la Chouette hulotte. Sa tête est surmontée de deux grandes aigrettes souvent dressées : on dit qu'il « fronce les sourcils » ; elles sont effectivement couchées quand le hibou est serein. Ses yeux jaune-orangé sont au centre d'un disque facial arrondi beige-roux. Il a une longueur de 31 à 37 cm, un poids de 250 g pour les mâles ou de 300 g les femelles. Son envergure est de 86 à 98 cm.
À la saison des amours, un « hou hou hou hou » audible au loin, et aussi des bruits presque sifflants. Il met en garde par un « wupp wupp ».
Le Hibou moyen-duc a généralement un plumage tacheté de brun et rayé de noir, blanc et gris. La femelle est plus foncée. Le dessous est plus clair.
Affectionnant principalement les petits mammifères (surtout des campagnols à 78 % et des mulots à 15 %), mais aussi les passereaux (moineaux, pinsons), et parfois des coléoptères, il chasse dès la tombée de la nuit. De jour, il se cache dans les branchages épais où il se tient immobile, se fondant ainsi dans le décor grâce à son plumage à l'aspect d'écorce dont le dessus est brun-roux marbré de brun foncé, parfaite tenue de camouflage…
Jouant les « squatters », vers la fin mars-avril, il recherche un nid abandonné pour s'y installer après l'avoir remis légèrement en état. La femelle y dépose quatre à six œufs d'un blanc parfait qu'elle couve seule pendant 28 jours. Elle commence à couver dès le premier œuf pondu, de sorte que les petits éclosent progressivement. Le mâle pendant ce temps la nourrit puis, après l'éclosion, nourrit toute la famille en remettant ses proies à la femelle qui se charge de la distribution. Les jeunes hiboux quittent le nid au bout de 21 à 26 jours.
C'est un oiseau très répandu ; il habite toute l'Europe à l'exception du Grand Nord. En France, il est commun mais il est absent de Corse, du Sud-Ouest et de certains cantons de l'Ouest.
Il fréquente surtout les endroits semi-boisés de conifères, les bosquets dispersés dans les campagnes, mais aussi les parcs. Il choisit un ancien nid, soit de rapace, soit d'écureuil, soit de pie ou de corneille. Il boude les nichoirs.
Les populations sont fluctuantes, pour la plupart présentes toute l'année, mais de petites troupes vagabondes venues du Nord rejoignent les sédentaires en hiver.
Le Hibou moyen-duc bénéficie d'une protection totale sur le territoire français depuis l'arrêté ministériel du 17 avril 1981 relatif aux oiseaux protégés sur l'ensemble du territoire[4]. Il est donc interdit de le détruire, le mutiler, le capturer ou l'enlever, de le perturber intentionnellement ou de le naturaliser, ainsi que de détruire ou enlever les œufs et les nids et de détruire, altérer ou dégrader leur milieu. Qu'il soit vivant ou mort, il est aussi interdit de le transporter, colporter, de l'utiliser, de le détenir, de le vendre ou de l'acheter.
Le Hibou-moyen-duc est principalement menacé par :
Des Hiboux moyens-ducs sont représentés sur des timbres des pays suivants : Tchécoslovaquie (1986), Pologne (1990), Bulgarie (1992), Chine (1995), Belgique (1999 et 2007).
Asio otus
Le Hibou moyen-duc (Asio otus) est une espèce de rapaces nocturnes de la famille des strigidés, peuplant l'Europe, l'Asie et l'Amérique du Nord.
O bufo pequeno (Asio otus) é unha especie de moucho que cría en Europa, Asia, e Norteamérica. A estación de cría vai de febreiro a xullo. É parcialmente migratorio: os que viven nas zonas máis o norte móvense cara ó sur no inverno. Adoita vivir en bosques ou fragas preto de campo aberto. Deixase ver con máis dificultades ca outras especies da súa familia. Forma parte da familia Strigidae, que comprende os bufos máis coñecidos.
O corpo do bufo pequeno uns 36 cm. e a envergadura das súas alas é de 95 cm., o tamaño aproximado da avelaiona común (Strix aluco), aínda que é máis lixeiro, pesando de 220 a 280 gramos os machos e de 250 a 370 gramos as femias. Ten vistosas plumas na cabeza que recordan unhas orellas. O iris dos ollos do bufo pequeno é de cor amarela alaranxada brillante. A cara está dividida por unha liña de plumas elevadas. As alas son relativamente estreitas. A cor da plumaxe do bufo pequeno vai do castaño brillante á cor de terra amarelo ocre, con faixas e listas de cor castaño escuro. Os "antebrazos" son escuros e atravesados por bandas. En xeral nas femias predominan os tons escuros e os machos son algo máis claros. As cores e o debuxo xeral da ave son miméticos: un bufo pequeno e moi difícil de descubrir se está en pousado nunha pola.
A área de distribución da especie estendese dende as illas británicas por Eurasia, incluíndo China e Mongolia ata a illa de Sakhalín e o Xapón. a súa fronteira norte márcaa ó bosque caducifolio boreal. En África aparece nos bosques dos montes Atlas e nos bosques de montaña de Etiopía. Vive tamén nas Canarias e Azores. En América aparece o sur de Canadá e o norte e centro dos Estados Unidos,
O bufo pequeno precisa da presenza de campo aberto con plantas baixas. En Europa é unha ave de terras de cultivo, sobre todo de zonas verde, e zonas preto de pantanos. Ocasionalmente aparece en zonas alpinas, se a abundancia de presas o permite. Os bufos pequenos viven tamén en zonas de bosque só cando dispoñen de áreas despexadas para a caza. En cambio, sonlles moi axeitadas as beiras das zonas boscosas, que lles ofrecen abeiro de día e zonas de cría. Prefiren bosques de coníferas, nos que atopan niños vellos de corvo e pega que utilizan para criar. Se non dispoñen dese tipo de bosques poden utilizar soutos, pequenas agrupacións de árbores e mesmo sebes.Habita mesmo nos límites das cidades, sobre todo se dispón de superficies cultivadas próximas.
O bufo pequeno e territorial só preto da zona de cría, que marca con chíos e con voos de demostración, durante os que fai bater as alas por debaixo do corpo. Se o alimento e suficiente as zonas de cría poden estar moi achegadas unhas ás outras. No inverno os bufos pequenos poden compartir ocasionalmente as zonas de repouso, chegando a xuntarse ata 200 exemplares que nese caso manteñen unha mínima distancia. Neses casos escollen árbores que serven de lugar para durmir durante varios anos. Nalgúns casos comprobouse que unha árbore foi utilizada durante máis de 100 anos como lugar para pasa-lo inverno, e poden chegar a compartilo con outras especies de rapaces nocturnas. De feito o bufo pequeno non adoita ser agresivo con outras especies de estrixiformes.
Durante a época de cría os machos repiten separado por algúns segundos un berro apagado e monótono. A femia responde con outro berro monótono. O repertorio de sons conta tamén con asubíos e ruídos feitos co bico, que se usan principalmente para rexeitar ós intrusos. O repertorio de berros de alarma e moi variado.
As crías que xa deixaron o niño e aínda son alimentadas polos pais poden deixar oír un berro agudo durante horas pola noite, que ten sido usado para comprobar o estado das poboacións da especie.
Cazan ó luscofusco e pola noite. En casos de moita escaseza de alimento poden cazar polo día. Antes de comeza-la caza limpan a plumaxe con moito coidado. O bufo pequeno caza durante períodos de dúas ou tres horas, fai unha pausa e continua a cazar con intensidade outras dúas ou tres horas ata a chegada do amencer.
O voo e silencioso e realizase bastante preto do chan e localiza as presas pola vista e o oído. Caza tamén espreitando, sobre todo ratos. Para capturar insectos pousase directamente no chan ou mesmo camiña polas polas.
A súa presa principal son os roedores, xeralmente ratos. Cazan tamén paxaros pequenos, coma os gorrións.
Ó cumpriren o seu primeiro ano de vida os bufos pequenos son xa fértiles. Establecen parellas estacionais. As parellas fanse durante o inverno, no tempo en que os bufos dormen xuntos. E típico, porén, que os machos intenten atraer ó seu territorio ás femias cos seus berros a primeiros da primavera. Durante o cortexo o macho fai voos de demostración, amosando a parte inferior branca das plumas e facendo, as veces, bater as alas por baixo do corpo. Ese batido das alas faino tamén a femia cando esta preto dunha área potencial de cría..A esta fase pertencen tamén berros de aproximación.
Coma noutras especies de bufos europeos o macho tenta atraer á femia con chamadas en voz baixa. O bufo pequeno diferenciase doutras especies polos movementos de alas, plumas e dos penachos da cabeza moi característicos cos que acompaña as chamadas.
Utilizan niños abandonados de aves rapaces e córvidos, en algunha rara ocasión, situados no chan. As femias comezan a incubar des. que poñen o primeiro ovo e pon, cunha separación duns dous días, de catro a seis ovos. En caso dunha grande abundancia de alimento poden chegar a poñer excepcionalmente ata oito. Durante a incubación e os primeiros días despois da eclosión a femia deixa o niño so por períodos curtos. Os polos saen do ovo os 27 ou 28 días, e son intensamente alimentados pola mai coas presas fornecidas polo macho. Macho e femia defenden a niñada. A femia non volve a cazar ata que os polos poden saír do niño e poden pousarse nas polas próximas.
Os recen saídos do ovo pesan 16 gramos. Ö nacer pode xa adiviñarse a forma das futuras "orellas" que caracterizan á especie. As primeiras penas son substituídas por unha plumaxe de cor castaña brillante e unha máscara facial negra. Os polos deixan o niño as tres semanas e agáchanse nas zonas menos visibles da árbore na que naceron. De noite indican a súa posición cun berro agudo e repetido.As 10 semanas están en condicións de cazar, aínda que son alimentados polo menos unha semana máis.
Os xoves bufos poden desprazarse centos de quilómetros procurando un territorio propio. Bufos centroeuropeos poden viaxar ata Portugal e a distancia máxima recorrida foi nun caso de 2.140 quilómetros. En xeral, porén, os movementos lévanos de 50 a 100 km do punto de partida.
O Asio otus é, en xeral, un emigrante parcial. Os que viven o nordeste de Europa viaxan cara o suroeste en inverno. Durante á época fría achéganse ós arredores das grandes cidades e áreas habitadas, onde é máis doado atopar alimento. Os exemplares que viven en lugares máis quentes non migran.
O bufo pequeno é unha das presas de outras aves de presa meirandes, entre elas especialmente o bufo. As vítimas máis habituais son femias que incuban. As martas adoitan capturar os polos que non poden aínda voar. O bufo pequeno tente evitar ós inimigos co seu mimetismo, e, no caso das femias que están criando, apertándose o máis posible contra o fondo do niño. A isto engaden unha serie de tácticas coma inchar as plumas finxindo ser de maior tamaño do real batendo co bico a un tempo. En caso de perigo inminente os polos agatuñan ás zonas máis altas das árbores e poden chegara saltar ó chan.
No caso de que persoas ou animais cazadores se acheguen ó niño poden utilizar técnicas de distracción, como finxirse feridos para atraer a atención do posible cazador e afastalo da área de cría.
Só a metade dos Bufos pequenos chegan a pasar do ano de idade. A idade máxima comprobada en condicións naturais son 28 anos.
As poboacións desta especie dependen das de ratos. Un descenso nas taxas de reprodución destes roedores produce un sensible descenso do número de bufos pequenos na área afectada. As poboacións en Europa calcúlanse nunhas 200.000 parellas reprodutoras. Coma no caso doutras rapaces nocturnas o factor máis importante de conservación e manter a presenza de paisaxes naturais. Algúns investigadores suxiren a posibilidade de que a competencia da avelaiona común pode facer retroceder ós bufos pequenos. Estudios feitos nos Países Baixos parecerían demostralo, aínda que outros factores accesorios poderían explicar o descenso de poboación.
O bufo pequeno (Asio otus) é unha especie de moucho que cría en Europa, Asia, e Norteamérica. A estación de cría vai de febreiro a xullo. É parcialmente migratorio: os que viven nas zonas máis o norte móvense cara ó sur no inverno. Adoita vivir en bosques ou fragas preto de campo aberto. Deixase ver con máis dificultades ca outras especies da súa familia. Forma parte da familia Strigidae, que comprende os bufos máis coñecidos.
Mala ušara (lat. Asio otus) je vrsta ptica koja pripada redu sova te obitelji pravih sova. Ova vrsta živi na prostoru Europe, Azije, Sjeverne Amerike i Afrike. Malu ušaru je 1758. godine prvi put opisao švedski prirodoslovac Carl Linne.
Mala ušara spada u sove srednje veličine. Dužina tijela kod ove vrste se kreće između 31 i 40 centimetara, a raspon krila od 85 do 100 cm. Uglavnom nisu teže od 350 gramа.[1] Ženke su malo veće od mužjaka. Prosječna težina je kod mužjaka 259 g dok je kod ženki 282 g.
Prepoznatljive su po tome što na vrhu glave imaju "uške" - uzdignuto perje koje podsjeća na uši, a po tome su i dobile naziv.[1] Imaju crn kljun, a oči su im narančasto-crvenkaste boje. Noge su im prekrivene paperjem.
Mlade ptice imaju vrlo prodoran glas i može se čuti i na udaljenosti od preko 2 kilometra.[1] Ne grade gnijezda već od drugih ptica preotimaju već napravljena gnijezda. Najčešće se gnijezde na četinjačama, posebno onima s gustom krošnjom. Ženka u prosjeku polaže od 3-5 jaja u razmacima od po 2 dana. Ženke polažu jaja od polovine ožujka do kraja travnja. U godinama kada imaju izobilje hrane ove sove na svijet donose veći broj mladunaca ili se gnijezde 2 puta.[1] Mladi se izliježu iz jaja nakon 28 dana, a iz gnijezda izlaze nakon 25 dana ležanja. Kada napune 7 tjedana potpuno su sposobni letjeti, međutim s roditeljima ostaju još oko dva mjeseca, a potom se potpuno osamostale. Najčešće se hrane sitnim glodavcima, a aktivne su noću. Preko dana sjedi skrivena u krošnji drveća.
Male ušare žive u središnjem dijelu Sjeverne Amerike, sjevernoj Africi ,većem dijelu Europe i Azije. Populacije ove vrste se u sjevernim i hladnijim krajevima djelomično sele zbog nedostatka hrane, dok se u toplijim krajevima redovito skupljaju u zimska jata. Zimska jata se često nalaze u naseljenim mjestima, a broj jedinki u njima se kreće od nekoliko do više stotina ptica. Male ušare najčešće nastanjuju otvorene terene uz rubove šuma, drvorede, parkove, voćnjake i manje grupe drveća.
Male ušare su grabljivice koje plijen love noću. Najčešće love plijen u niskom letu, na rubovima šuma ili uz živice. Najčešće se hrane sitnim sisavcima poput poljskih miševa i voluharice.[1] Vrlo rijetko se hrani ostalim glodavcima, sitnijim pticama, insektima i žabama. Ovi glodavci kojima se hrane predstavljaju po ljude štetne vrste tako da ove sove imaju i pozitivan gospodarski značaj za ljude.
Male ušare se u mnogim dijelovima svijeta zaštićene zakonom. Veliki problem za Male ušare je narušavanje njihovih prirodnih staništa, i nestajanje mjesta gdje se mogu gnijezditi, kao i mjesta gdje love. Često stradaju i na cestama u sudarima s vozilima.[2] Pošto se nalaze u neposrednoj blizini ljudi ove sove se često uznemiravaju. U velikom dijelu Europe brojnost ovih sova je u stalnom padu.[2]
Postoje 4 podvrste malih ušara:
Mala ušara (lat. Asio otus) je vrsta ptica koja pripada redu sova te obitelji pravih sova. Ova vrsta živi na prostoru Europe, Azije, Sjeverne Amerike i Afrike. Malu ušaru je 1758. godine prvi put opisao švedski prirodoslovac Carl Linne.
Eyrugla (fræðiheiti: Asio otus (áður: Strix otus)) er uglutegund sem verpir í Evrópu, Asíu og Norður-Ameríku. Eyrugla er meðalstór ugla 31–37 sm löng með 86–98 sm vænghaf. Kvenfuglinn er stærri og dekkri en karlfuglinn. Varptími er frá febrúar til júlí. Eyruglur eru að hluta til farfuglar sem fljúga suður á bóginn á veturna. Heimkynni eyrugla eru skógarjaðrar nálægt opnu svæði.
Eyruglur gera hreiður í trjám, oft barrtrjám og nota gömul hreiður frá öðrum fuglum eins og krákum og hröfnum. Vanalega eru eggin 4 - 6 og útungunartími er 25 - 30 dagar.
Eyruglur veiða á opnum svæðum að nóttu til. Fæða eyruglna er aðallega nagdýr, lítil spendýr og fuglar.
Eyruglur eru nýir landnemar á Íslandi og hafa verpt þar. Þær má þekkja frá branduglum á því að þær hafa stærri eyru og augu þeirra eru appelsínugul en gul í branduglum.
Stofninn telur um 15-20 pör. [1]
Eyrugla (fræðiheiti: Asio otus (áður: Strix otus)) er uglutegund sem verpir í Evrópu, Asíu og Norður-Ameríku. Eyrugla er meðalstór ugla 31–37 sm löng með 86–98 sm vænghaf. Kvenfuglinn er stærri og dekkri en karlfuglinn. Varptími er frá febrúar til júlí. Eyruglur eru að hluta til farfuglar sem fljúga suður á bóginn á veturna. Heimkynni eyrugla eru skógarjaðrar nálægt opnu svæði.
Eyruglur gera hreiður í trjám, oft barrtrjám og nota gömul hreiður frá öðrum fuglum eins og krákum og hröfnum. Vanalega eru eggin 4 - 6 og útungunartími er 25 - 30 dagar.
Eyruglur veiða á opnum svæðum að nóttu til. Fæða eyruglna er aðallega nagdýr, lítil spendýr og fuglar.
Eyruglur eru nýir landnemar á Íslandi og hafa verpt þar. Þær má þekkja frá branduglum á því að þær hafa stærri eyru og augu þeirra eru appelsínugul en gul í branduglum.
Stofninn telur um 15-20 pör.
Il gufo comune (Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758)) è un uccello rapace facente parte della famiglia degli Strigidi. Diffuso nel Nordamerica, in Europa e in Asia, vive principalmente nei boschi e nelle foreste di conifere.
Il gufo comune è caratterizzato da tipici ciuffi sulle orecchie, semplici piume che non incidono sul funzionamento dell'apparato uditivo, peraltro finissimo. È un animale esclusivamente notturno; caccia una grande varietà di piccoli animali, quali topi, toporagni (Sorex araneus), talpe (Talpa europaea), scoiattoli, pipistrelli, ratti, uccelli e insetti. Durante il giorno dorme nelle cavità degli alberi o in vecchi ruderi, perfettamente mimetizzato dal piumaggio.
Le sue dimensioni variano fra i 35 e i 40 cm di lunghezza, con un'apertura alare di 90-100 cm.[2]
Il gufo non può muovere gli occhi, in compenso riesce a ruotare la testa di ben 270°.[3]
Nidifica tra marzo e maggio, in base alla zona; quando c'è cibo a sufficienza può fare due covate. La femmina depone da 3 a 10 uova, la media è di 4 o 5 per covata, nel nido di un'altra specie o in quello di uno scoiattolo. Se non trova nidi di questo genere depone le uova sul suolo, sotto un albero o un arbusto. Cova le uova per 26-28 giorni; in questo periodo e fino a dopo la schiusa, la femmina viene nutrita dal maschio. I piccoli lasciano il nido dopo 3-4 settimane.
È l'unico rapace notturno che in inverno si aggrega in dormitori, selezionando posatoi su alberi, sovente anche in aree urbane. Da dicembre a febbraio, i gufi comuni trascorrono le proprie giornate sullo stesso albero dal quale poi s'involano la sera, per andare a caccia. Gli individui di gufo comune presenti in un dormitorio sono originari del territorio circostante ma una parte di questi arriva anche da soggetti svernanti che arrivano anche da altre nazioni. All'inizio della primavera si disperdono, abbandonando il dormitorio ("roost"), per accoppiarsi e nidificare. Il sistema migliore per censire i gufi comuni svernanti consiste proprio nel ritrovare un dormitorio e contare gli animali presenti.
I gufi si intrattengono sullo stesso ramo per tutto l'inverno e, spesso, rimangono fedeli negli anni allo stesso posatoio. Il probabile significato di questo comportamento sociale potrebbe essere di protezione reciproca ma anche di scambio di informazioni sulle disponibilità trofiche, ovvero i luoghi dove bisogna andare a cacciare.
Il verso è un grido abbastanza forte, simile ad altri uccelli del suo genere tassonomico.
Alcune popolazioni settentrionali migrano durante l'inverno verso sud (Messico, Egitto, India) ritornando nella loro abituale zona di diffusione la primavera successiva.
Il gufo comune (Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758)) è un uccello rapace facente parte della famiglia degli Strigidi. Diffuso nel Nordamerica, in Europa e in Asia, vive principalmente nei boschi e nelle foreste di conifere.
Asio otus est avis generis Asionum familiae Strigidarum. Propriae eius sunt binae fimbriae pennarum, tamquam cornua, supra capite sitae. Europae veterrimus Asio otus constat fuisse 17 annos, 8 menses, 24 dies natus. Parva rodentia, praecipue Migrotos agrestes et Apodemos flavicolles comedit.
Situs scientifici: • ITIS • NCBI • Biodiversity • Encyclopedia of Life • IUCN Red List • Fossilworks • INPN France 
Vide "Asionem otum" apud Vicispecies. 
Haec stipula ad avem spectat. Amplifica, si potes! Asio otus est avis generis Asionum familiae Strigidarum. Propriae eius sunt binae fimbriae pennarum, tamquam cornua, supra capite sitae. Europae veterrimus Asio otus constat fuisse 17 annos, 8 menses, 24 dies natus. Parva rodentia, praecipue Migrotos agrestes et Apodemos flavicolles comedit.
Mažasis apuokas (lot. Asio otus, angl. Long-eared Owl, vok. Waldohreule) – pelėdinių (Strigidae) šeimos paukštis.
Mažasis apuokas yra mažesnis už naminę pelėdą, skiriasi ilgomis „auselėmis“, oranžiškomis akimis. Patino ir patelės kūno viršutinė pusė gelsvai ruda su išilginėmis dėmėmis bei taškeliais ir skersiniais dryželiais. Skruostai pilkai gelsvi. Viršugalvyje pora ilgų „auselių“. Apatinė kūno pusė šviesesnė, su didelėmis išilginėmis dėmėmis bei retais skersiniais dryžiais. Plunksnuotos kojos šviesiai gelsvos. Snapas ir nagai juodi, rainelė oranžiška. Svoris apie 290-310 gramų. Jauniklių plunksninis apdaras panašus į suaugusiųjų. Pūkinis apdaras trumpas, minkštas, baltos spalvos.
Eurazijoje paplitęs nuo Atlanto iki Ramiojo vandenyno. Šiaurėje arealas siekia Botnijos įlanką, Baltosios jūros pakrantę, Obės vidurupį, Jenisejaus aukštupį, Lenos vidurupį, Amūro baseiną, pietuose – Mongoliją, Altajų, Pamyro vakarinę dalį, Užkaukazę, Mažąją Aziją, Viduržemio jūros pakrantę. Gyvena šiaurės vakarų Afrikoje, daugelyje salų.
Lietuvoje aptinkamas ištisus metus.
Gyvena spygliuočių miškuose, parkuose ir soduose. Naktinis paukštis. Lytiškai subręsta pirmaisiais gyvenimo metais. Užima varnų ir šarkų lizdus. Dėtyje paprastai būna 3–8 kiaušiniai, kurie sveria po 28 gramus. Peri tik patelė apie 28 dienas. Žuvus pirmajai dėčiai, dedama antra. Tik išsiritęs jauniklis sveria apie 20 gramų. Monogamai, poros nepastovios.
Minta peliniais graužikais, rečiau – kitais paukščiais, varliagyviais ir bestuburiais.
Mažasis apuokas
Skrydyje
Mažojo apuoko jauniklis
Mažasis apuokas (lot. Asio otus, angl. Long-eared Owl, vok. Waldohreule) – pelėdinių (Strigidae) šeimos paukštis.
Ausainā pūce (Asio otus) ir vidēja izmēra naktsaktīva pūce, kas izplatīta visā Eiropā, izņemot galējos ziemeļus, Āzijā līdz Tālajiem Austrumiem, Ziemeļāfrikā no Marokas līdz Tunisijai un Ziemeļamerikā no Kanādas dienvidiem līdz Meksikai. Ausainai pūcei ir 4 pasugas.[1]
Izplatības areāla ziemeļu populācijas ir pilnībā migrējošas, kas pārvietojas uz izplatības areāla dienvidu teritorijām. Migrē arī areāla centrālās daļas populācijas. Reizēm migrējošie putni pārsniedz izplatības dienvidu robežu, sasniedzot Ēģipti, Irānu un Indiju.
Latvijā ausainā pūce ir samērā parasta ligzdotāja, kas ligzdo tradicionālā kultūrainavā, izvairoties no lieliem mežu masīviem. Tā ir otrā biežāk sastopamā pūču suga aiz meža pūces. Reizēm paliek ziemot, bet bargās ziemās daudzas pūces iet bojā.[1] Latvijā mājo nominālpasuga Asio otus otus.[1]
Ausainā pūce ir vidēji liela pūce. Tās ķermeņa garums ir 35—38 cm, spārnu izplētums 90—100 cm, svars 220—435 g. Mātītes ir nedaudz lielākas un tumšākas nekā tēviņi.[2][3] Ausainai pūcei ir raibumaini brūns apspalvojums. Mugura tumša, sajaucoties melnām, tumši brūnām, gaiši brūnām un baltām spalviņām, bet pavēdere gaiši brūna ar tumši brūnām vertikālām svītrām un raibumiem. Uz apaļās, lielās galvas tai ir gari un melni pušķi, kas atgādina ausis vai ragus. Garie ausu pušķi, sēžot uz zara, ausaino pūci vizuāli padara lielāku. Lidojumā pušķi tiek pieglausti un nav redzami. Spārni — ļoti gari un plati. Sēžot uz zara, tie krustojas uz muguras.[2] Arī aste ir gara. Kājas un pirksti apspalvoti ar gaiši brūnām spalvām. Uzacis un spalvas ap knābi ir gandrīz baltas.
Kā visām pūcēm tai ir asimetriski ausu atvērumi: kreisās auss atvere ir augstāk nekā labā. Asimetriskie ausu atvērumi palīdz pūcei labāk noteikt skaņas avota atrašanās vietu.[2] Tai ir lieli, rudi brūni sejas diski, ar tumši pelēku maliņu visriņķī. Arī sejas diski uzlabo pūces spēju sadzirdēt vissīkāko troksni. Pateicoties izcilajai dzirdei, pūce var medīt tumsā. Ir zināms, ka ausainā pūce spēj noķert peli pilnīgā tumsā.[3]
Ausainā pūce ir samērā kluss putns, bet riesta laikā tā kļūst "runīga".[2] Tēviņam ir raksturīga ūjināšana, kas, lai arī ir klusāka par daudzu citu pūču sugu skaļajām balsīm, piemērotos laika apstākļos ir sadzirdama pat kilometru tālu.[3] Ja ausainā pūce ir nervoza, tā spiedz vai svilpo. Briesmu gadījumā tā skaļi un asi sauc “kvik-kvik-kvik”. Pēc ligzdas atstāšanas vasaras vidū skaļi, un līdz ar to naktī pamanāmi, ir ausaino pūču jaunie putni.
Ausainā pūce mājo mežmalās vai atsevišķās koku grupās atklātu lauku un pļavu tuvumā. Tā medī nakts laikā atklātās vietās, klusu, bez skaņas planējot virs medību teritorijas. Migrējot tā retumis medī arī dienas laikā. Ausainā pūce pamatā medī grauzējus, bet arī citus mazus zīdītājus (mazākus par 100 gramiem),[2] putnus un čūskas. Upuris parasti tiek noķerts uz zemes vai zemiem augiem. Uzreiz pēc noķeršanas ausainā pūce ar knābi nogalina medījumu, ieknābjot upura galvaskausa pamatnē, pēc tam medījums tiek norīts vesels.[2] Ligzdošanas laikā liekais medījums tiek noglabāts ligzdā vēlākai apēšanai. Mazus upurus ausainā pūce nes knābī, lielākus nagos. Pēc medījuma apēšanas, pēc 3—4 stundām, ausainā pūce atrij spalvu un matojuma kamolus. Ausainā pūce ir ļoti laba lidotāja, tā spēj veikli manevrēt starp bieziem krūmiem. Tās lidojums atgādina kaijas lidojumu, ar retiem, lēniem spārnu vēzieniem, kas mijas ar ilgstošu planēšanu.[2]
Ausaino pūču viena no īpatnībām ir to savākšanās baros ziemas periodā. Bars kopīgi dienas laikā atpūšas kādā kokā.
Ligzdošanas laikā ausainās pūces dzīvo pa pāriem un uzturas tikai ligzdas tuvumā. Lai arī ausainām pūcēm ir ligzdas teritorija, tās ir tolerantas pret savas sugas pūcēm.[2] No pārējiem plēsīgajiem putniem un citiem ienaidniekiem teritoriju apsargā abi vecāki. Tie bezbailīgi uzbrūk, pikējot, knābjot un skaļi kliedzot. Ienaidnieka aizvilināšanai tiek izmantots arī ievainota putna paņēmiens. Ausainā pūce izliekas savainota, lai aizvilinātu lielāku ienaidnieku. Reizēm vairākas ausainās pūces, kas viena otras tuvumā ligzdo, tēlo ievainotus putnus, lai aizvilinātu uzbrucēju, pat, ja apdraudēta tikai viena no ligzdām.[2] Ligzdošanai tiek izmantotas vecas vārnu, kraukļu, žagatu un plēsīgo putnu ligzdas. Ausainā pūce ļoti reti izmanto cilvēku veidotās ligzdošanas vietas.
Ausainās pūces atkarībā no izplatības teritorijas perē un audzina bērnus laikā no februāra līdz jūlijam. Sezonā tām ir tikai viens perējums. Dējumā ir 4—5 olas. Inkubācijas periods ilgst 25—30 dienas. Dienas laikā mātīte nekad nepamet ligzdu, bet nakts laikā tā uz īsu brīdi izlido. Pēc izšķilšanās putnēni ir daļēji apspalvoti un nevarīgi. Mātīte pirmās 2 nedēļas mazuļus nepamet. Tēviņš baro mātīti visu šo laiku. Ligzdu jaunās pūces pamet pēc 3 nedēļām. Tie vēl nespēj lidot un uzturas ligzdas tuvumā tuvākajos zaros. Ja jaunās pūces izbiedē, tās uzpūšas, sabož spalvas un cenšas izskatīties lielākas. Sasniedzot apmēram 35 dienu vecumu, jaunie putni sāk mēģināt lidot. Neatkarīgi tie kļūst 10—11 nedēļu vecumā. Dzimumbriedumu ausainās pūces sasniedz apmēram 1 gada vecumā.[2]
Pieaugušas ausainās pūces medī lielie plēsīgie putni, piemēram, ūpji, ērgļi, vanagi. Perējošu mātīti ligzdā var nomedīt, piemēram, jenots vai cauna, bet mazuļus medī čūskas un vārnas.[2]
Ausainā pūce (Asio otus) ir vidēja izmēra naktsaktīva pūce, kas izplatīta visā Eiropā, izņemot galējos ziemeļus, Āzijā līdz Tālajiem Austrumiem, Ziemeļāfrikā no Marokas līdz Tunisijai un Ziemeļamerikā no Kanādas dienvidiem līdz Meksikai. Ausainai pūcei ir 4 pasugas.
Izplatības areāla ziemeļu populācijas ir pilnībā migrējošas, kas pārvietojas uz izplatības areāla dienvidu teritorijām. Migrē arī areāla centrālās daļas populācijas. Reizēm migrējošie putni pārsniedz izplatības dienvidu robežu, sasniedzot Ēģipti, Irānu un Indiju.
Latvijā ausainā pūce ir samērā parasta ligzdotāja, kas ligzdo tradicionālā kultūrainavā, izvairoties no lieliem mežu masīviem. Tā ir otrā biežāk sastopamā pūču suga aiz meža pūces. Reizēm paliek ziemot, bet bargās ziemās daudzas pūces iet bojā. Latvijā mājo nominālpasuga Asio otus otus.
Templat:Taxonomi Templat:Regnum:Haiwania Templat:Phylum:Kordata Templat:Kelas:Burung ( Aves ) Templat:Order:Strigiformes Templat:Famili:Strigidae Templat:Genus:Asio Templat:Spesies: otus Nama Binomial Asio otusBurung hantu telinga panjang atau dalam bahasa Inggerisnya Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) adalah spesies burung hantu yang terdapat di Eropah, Asia, dan Amerika Utara. Burung ini separuh burung bermigrasi, bergerak ke selatan pada musim sejuk dari kawasannya di utara. Habitatnya di dalam hutan berhampiran dengan kawasan terbuka.
Spesies Burung hantu telinga panjang merupakan sebahagian daripada kumpulan besar burung hantu yang dikenali sebagai burung hantu biasa, Strigidae, yang merangkumi kebanyakan spesies burung hantu. Kumpulan lain adalah burung hantu gereja, Tytonidae.
Ia bersarang di pokok, seringkali pokok kon, biasanya menggunakan sarang lama burung lain seperti gagak, bertelur 4-5 telur. Ia mudah menerima bakul sarang buatan.
Ia memburu di kawasan terbuka pada waktu malam. Makanan utamanya adalah tikus dan burung.
Burung hantu telinga panjang mempunyai mata kuning-bata; telinga panjangnya gebu tidak kelihatan ketika terbang, tetapi jelas kelihatan pada waktu lain. Ia bewarna keperangan di bahagian atas dan pucat di bahagian bawah. Ia mempunyai sayap yang panjang, menyerupai burung hantu telinga pendek, dan melayang perlahan dengan sayap yang ditegakkan ketika memburu. Spesies aktif malam ini ( nocturnal ) lebih mudah kelihatan bertenggek pada waktu siang.
Lihat juga burung pemangsa.
Burung hantu telinga panjang atau dalam bahasa Inggerisnya Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) adalah spesies burung hantu yang terdapat di Eropah, Asia, dan Amerika Utara. Burung ini separuh burung bermigrasi, bergerak ke selatan pada musim sejuk dari kawasannya di utara. Habitatnya di dalam hutan berhampiran dengan kawasan terbuka.
Spesies Burung hantu telinga panjang merupakan sebahagian daripada kumpulan besar burung hantu yang dikenali sebagai burung hantu biasa, Strigidae, yang merangkumi kebanyakan spesies burung hantu. Kumpulan lain adalah burung hantu gereja, Tytonidae.
Ia bersarang di pokok, seringkali pokok kon, biasanya menggunakan sarang lama burung lain seperti gagak, bertelur 4-5 telur. Ia mudah menerima bakul sarang buatan.
Ia memburu di kawasan terbuka pada waktu malam. Makanan utamanya adalah tikus dan burung.
Burung hantu telinga panjang mempunyai mata kuning-bata; telinga panjangnya gebu tidak kelihatan ketika terbang, tetapi jelas kelihatan pada waktu lain. Ia bewarna keperangan di bahagian atas dan pucat di bahagian bawah. Ia mempunyai sayap yang panjang, menyerupai burung hantu telinga pendek, dan melayang perlahan dengan sayap yang ditegakkan ketika memburu. Spesies aktif malam ini ( nocturnal ) lebih mudah kelihatan bertenggek pada waktu siang.
Lihat juga burung pemangsa.
De ransuil (Asio otus) is een relatief grote uil, die voorkomt in heel Europa, met uitzondering van IJsland. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd als Srix otus in 1758 gepubliceerd door Carl Linnaeus.[2]
Opvallend aan het uiterlijk van de ransuil zijn met name de lange oorpluimen, die overigens geen echte oren zijn. Zijn naam dankt hij aan de gelijkenis met een 'ranse', Middelnederlands voor 'muts met een kap die in plooien afhing'. De ogen zijn oranje-geel. Verwarring met de oehoe, die ook oorpluimen heeft, is mogelijk maar deze laatste is aanzienlijk groter dan de ransuil. Het verenkleed is aan de bovenzijde roestgeel met zwartbruine vlekken en strepen, en verder is de vogel grijsbruin gevlekt en gestreept. De lichtgele onderzijde vertoont brede donkere lengtestrepen en fijne dwarsstreepjes.
Roep van een juveniele ransuil (download·info) Het blazen van ransuilen (download·info) Het legsel bestaat gewoonlijk uit vier tot zes glanzend witte, ronde eieren.
Net als de meeste uilen is ook de ransuil vooral actief als het donker is. Dit in tegenstelling tot de velduil, die ook wel overdag actief is. De ransuil jaagt op knaagdieren en rustende vogels.
Er worden vier ondersoorten onderscheiden.[3]
De ransuil komt voor in bosachtige gebieden met naaldbomen en open terreinen. In de winter verblijven ransuilen graag in elkaars gezelschap. In hun roestplaatsen, gemeenschappelijke slaapplaatsen in naaldbomen, struiken, knotwilgen of wilde hagen, rusten ze soms in grote groepen tot wel 100 exemplaren.
Volgens SOVON daalde het aantal broedparen in de periode 1990-2007 met meer dan 5% per jaar. Er broedden in 2007 nog ongeveer 5500 paar in Nederland.[4] Als voornaamste oorzaak van de achteruitgang wordt de uitbreiding van de havik aangemerkt, maar ook vergrassing van de bosbodems (waardoor muizen lastiger te vangen zijn) en de achteruitgang van het aanbod aan lege kraai- en eksternesten.[5]
Deze uil is in 2004 als kwetsbaar op de Nederlandse Rode Lijst gezet. De soort staat niet op de Vlaamse Rode Lijst. De ransuil staat als niet bedreigd op de internationale Rode Lijst van de IUCN.[1]
Kop met goed zichtbare oorpluimen
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Jong dier in Polen
De ransuil (Asio otus) is een relatief grote uil, die voorkomt in heel Europa, met uitzondering van IJsland. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd als Srix otus in 1758 gepubliceerd door Carl Linnaeus.
Hornugle er ei ugle i gruppa Asio.
Hornugla har ei lengd på 31-37 cm og eit vengespenn på 86-98 cm. Ho veg om lag 280 gram. Fuglen har lange øyretufsar som kan reisast rett opp. Hoa er større enn hannen og har mørkare fjørdrakt. Dei brunaktige fjørene er loddrett streka. Fuglen er spraglete og vatra i svartbrunt, rustgult og kvitt på oversida. Bryst og buk er rustgule og kvite med svartbrune langsflekkar. Tarsen og tærne er heilt fjørkledde. På den sitande fuglen når vengen nedom stjerten. Den andre handsvingfjøra er innskåren i den ytre fana, den første i den indre. Iris er oransjefarga. Hornugla er vanskeleg å sjå om dagen då fuglen kamuflerer seg ved å site på ei grein tett inn til trestamma. Ho dreg saman fjørdrakta og kroppen og får ein ekstra avlang utsjånad.
Territoriesongen til hannen er dempa, men kan bere ein kilometer eller meir. Dei gjennomtrengande tiggeropa ungane ytrar når dei er ute av reiret ber minst like langt.
Hornugla lever over store delar av Palearktis, frå det nordlege Afrika og Europa i vest gjennom det nordlege Asia austover til Kina og Japan og sørover til det nordvestre India. Vidare finst fuglen over store delar av Nord-Amerika sør til det nordlege Mexico. Fuglane som hekkar i nord er trekkfuglar eller lever nomadisk, dei i sør er standfuglar.
Hornugla vert delt i fire underartar:
Hornugla hekkar i alle fylke, men spreidd i dei nordlege delane av landet. Vanlegast er fuglen i lågareliggande delar av Sørlandet, Austlandet og Trøndelag. Fuglane likar best i jordbrukslandskap med blanding av dyrka mark og barskog, og finst så høgt til fjells som barskogen strekker seg. Skogen treng fuglane spesielt for å gøyme seg om dagen.
Hornuglene er nattfuglar som jaktar på smågnagarar, og også litt insekt.
Fuglane finn seg gjerne kvistreir etter kråke, skjor eller ekorn. Hoa legg 3-5 egg. Egglegginga skjer frå seint i mars til midt i mai. Hoa rugar i 25-30 døgn. Begge foreldra matar ungane.
Etter som hornuglene er nomadiske er det vanskeleg å snakke om ein norsk hekkebestand, men stort sett er det slik at fuglane i Noreg er trekkfuglar som kjem hit i mars-juni og reiser sørover og sørvestover stundom heilt til Spania. Nokre individ kan overvintre i Noreg når og der det er mykje smågnagarar og lite snø.
Hornugle (Asio otus) er en ugle i gruppen Asio. Den ca. 35 cm store uglen med stramt stående fjærører lever i skogene på den nordlige delen av jordhalvkulen.
Denne ornitologirelaterte artikkelen er foreløpig kort eller mangelfull, og du kan hjelpe Wikipedia ved å utvide den. Hornugle (Asio otus) er en ugle i gruppen Asio. Den ca. 35 cm store uglen med stramt stående fjærører lever i skogene på den nordlige delen av jordhalvkulen.
Multimedia w Wikimedia Commons Uszatka zwyczajna, sowa uszata, uszatka (Asio otus) – gatunek ptaka drapieżnego z rodziny puszczykowatych (Strigidae).
Występuje dość licznie w umiarkowanej i chłodnej strefie Europy i Azji (do Azji Mniejszej i Himalajów na południu zasięgu), północno-zachodniej Afryce oraz w Ameryce Północnej. Na północy występuje do granicy tundry. Zimą częściej można ją spotkać w Środkowej i Zachodniej Europie, bo tam znajdują się jej zimowiska. Jeśli obszar obfituje w pokarm mogą tam wtedy gromadzić się w grupy liczące nawet 30 osobników, za dnia widoczne przesiadujące razem na drzewach.
W Polsce rozpowszechniony (zwłaszcza na niżu), ale nieliczny ptak lęgowy i zimujący. Liczebność zmienia się w zależności od ilości pokarmu, czyli gryzoni – w tzw. "mysich latach" uszatki odchowują więcej młodych...
Ogólnym ubarwieniem i kształtami, np. pomarańczowymi tęczówkami i sterczącymi "uszami na głowie", podobna do puchacza, jednakże znacznie od niego mniejsza. Samce i samice ubarwione jednakowo, ale samice są nieznacznie większe, a samce mają jaśniejszy spód skrzydła. Upierzenie rdzawobrązowe w ciemne plamki i kreski, spód ciała jaśniejszy, żółtawobrązowy, pióra na piersiach z podłużnymi kreskami (przypominającymi „kurze łapki”). Na ogonie i lotkach pierwszorzędowych ciemniejsze poprzeczne paski.
Na głowie charakterystyczne "uszy" utworzone przez ruchome kępki piór, które w czasie lotu lub u spokojnego ptaka są położone. Od nich wzięła się nazwa gatunkowa. Nie są w rzeczywistości związane ze słuchem, a stanowią ozdobę pomagającą się maskować. Niektórzy ornitolodzy uważają, że uszatki mogą nimi się nawzajem komunikować. Właściwe uszy są ulokowane poniżej oczu ptaka i jak na tę gromadę są dość duże, zbudowane na powierzchni ciała z fałdów skórnych, których układ może przypominać małżowinę uszną (nie jest widoczna z zewnątrz, bo przykrywają ja pióra). Oczy pomarańczowoczerwone, otoczone ciemnymi piórami, szlara pomarańczowobrązowa przechodząca w szarobeżową, wyraźnie odgraniczona. Dziób czarny, nogi opierzone.
Młode wyglądają podobnie, jednak kreskowanie jest delikatniejsze, "uszy" z piór krótsze i mniej widoczne, a szlara ciemniejsza.
W porównaniu z podobną sową błotną ma ciemniejsze upierzenie, dłuższe pióra tworzące "uszy" i pozbawiona jest ciemnej szlary wokół oczu. Ma smuklejszą sylwetkę od puszczyka. Chociaż uszatka jest tylko nieco większa od gołębia to robi wrażenie dużo większej przez okazalszą głowę i skrzydła. To ptak wielkości wrony.
Typowy godowy głos samca to niskie, głuche pohukiwanie („huu… huu… huu…”) – pojedyncze dźwięki monotonnie powtarzane wielokrotnie w odstępach 2-3 sekundowych słyszane z daleka. Samica odzywa się zgrzytliwym, wyższym „hyyy”, często w duecie z samcem. Te głosy można usłyszeć wyłącznie w nocy. Poza sezonem lęgowym uszatki zwykle milczą. Głos zaniepokojenia to skrzeczące „wek wek”. Zaniepokojone pisklęta prychają jak koty.
Głos kontaktowy młodych uszatek to cieniutkie, dźwięczne piski w odstępach co kilka sekund. W ten sposób młode komunikują swoje położenie rodzicom wracającym z pożywieniem.
Aktywna nocą, poluje głównie o zmierzchu i o świcie. Lot wolny, ślizgowy, z uwagi na miękkie lotki bardzo cichy. Lata bardzo sprawnie między gęstym listowiem, kiedy poluje potrafi zawisnąć w powietrzu trzepocząc skrzydłami. W dzień uszatka siedzi ukryta, wyciągając ciało aby upodobnić się do gałęzi drzew. Płochliwa – gdy jest zaniepokojona, prostuje się i wysmukla oraz przymyka oczy.
Częściowo osiadła, częściowo podejmuje wędrówki i koczowania (przeloty od lutego do kwietnia oraz od października do listopada). Późną jesienią i zimą można spotkać stada od kilku do kilkudziesięciu sów na jednym lub kilku drzewach. Miejsca gromadnego przebywania nie zmieniają się z roku na rok i są prawdopodobnie wykorzystywane przez te same ptaki.
Zasiedla wysokopienne lasy iglaste lub mieszane i ich obrzeża, zadrzewienia śródpolne i nadrzeczne, parki o gęstym zadrzewieniu, gdzie może znaleźć miejsce do gniazdowania i schronienia. Liczniejsza w lasach iglastych; wszędzie tam gdzie występują wysokie, stare drzewa, a w pobliżu są tereny otwarte, o mozaikowatym krajobrazie, odpowiednie do polowania - łąki, torfowiska lub pola. W ostatnich latach coraz liczniejsza w obrębie osiedli ludzkich, również w dużych miastach: Lesznie, Poznaniu, Wrocławiu, Warszawie. W 1995 roku we Wrocławiu było 44-45 terytoriów tych sów. Widywana nawet w obrębie blokowisk.
Prawie wyłącznie gryzonie – norniki i myszy oraz inne drobne ssaki do rozmiarów szczura, jak ryjówki. Tylko wyjątkowo chwyta inne gryzonie, małe ptaki do wielkości kosa, owady lub żaby. W pobliżu siedlisk ludzkich większy udział w pokarmie zajmują wróble. Po ok. 3-4 godzinach wydala przez dziób niestrawione resztki pokarmu w postaci tzw. wypluwek. Są one duże (2 × 5 cm), owalne lub wałeczkowate, koloru czarnego lub szarego i zawierają kości, zęby i sierść.
Uszatki polują nocą na otwartych przestrzeniach – łąkach, ugorach, polach uprawnych, natomiast prawie nigdy w lasach, gdzie gniazdują i odpoczywają w dzień. Latają od zmierzchu do świtu, nisko (1-2 m) nad ziemią, lotem ślizgowym ze skrzydłami ułożonymi poziomo, i nasłuchują z głową przechyloną w jedną stronę, chyba że jest to okres lęgowy i wylatują na łowy dla wyżywienia młodych już 4 godziny przed zachodem słońca, a kończą żer po świcie. Cichy lot zapewniają puszyste, miękkie pióra i lekko pikowana przednia krawędź skrzydła, podobnie jak u innych sów. Gdy tylko sowa namierzy słuchem i wzrokiem niesłyszącą drapieżcy ofiarę, natychmiast spada na nią, przygważdżając szponami do ziemi. Przy całkowitej ciemności posługuje się tylko słuchem w lokalizacji zdobyczy np. myszy, co świadczy o dużej precyzyjności słuchu. Mniejsza zdobycz jest od razu połykana lub niesiona w dziobie, większa – niesiona w szponach. Potrafi łapać owady i ptaki w locie.
Od zasobów pokarmowych siedlisk na których się pojawia zależy intensywność i zasięg wędrówek.
Wyprowadza jeden lęg w roku, zwykle w połowie lub pod koniec kwietnia. Ewentualny drugi lęg przypada na lipiec.
Okres godowy rozpoczyna się od specyficznego tokowania z głośnym pohukiwaniem i akrobacjami w powietrzu. Samce zajmują terytoria i bronią ich głosem już zimą. Okres lęgowy trwa od marca do sierpnia. Podczas zalotów samiec odbywa loty tokowe z pojedynczymi uderzeniami skrzydeł („klaskaniem”). Dana para utrzymuje się razem tylko w danym sezonie lęgowym.
Uszatki bronią gniazda przed intruzami przyjmując groźny wygląd – rozkładają skrzydła, stroszą pióra i pochylają głowę, przez co wydają się 2-3 razy większe niż w rzeczywistości. Mogą również odciągać wroga od gniazda, udając że są ranne lub właśnie coś upolowały, i robiąc przy tym dużo hałasu. Rzadziej atakują bezpośrednio, rzucając się ze szponami na głowę intruza.
Zazwyczaj nie buduje gniazda. Najczęściej lęgnie się w starych, opuszczonych lęgowiskach po innych ptakach, zwłaszcza krukowatych – wronach, srokach, gawronach, sójkach, krukach – a rzadziej po drapieżnych - myszołowach lub krogulcach. Umieszczone wysoko (5 – 10 m) w górnej części korony, przeważnie drzewa iglastego, bliżej pnia. Zdarzają się gniazda na ziemi (choć rzadko i głównie gdy nie może znaleźć odpowiedniego miejsca), pojedynczych drzewach lub zajmowanie dziupli po wiewiórkach pospolitych. Uszatki wykorzystują również wiklinowe kosze lęgowe oraz standardowe skrzynki lęgowe wieszane przez człowieka na drzewach. Przed złożeniem jaj gniazdo jest wyściełane korą, piórami, liśćmi i mchem.
Niemal kuliste, równobiegunowe, o grubej, gładkiej skorupie, czysto białe. Średnie wymiary 41x33 mm. Jaja w ilości 5-6[3], czasami nawet 8, składane w połowie marca w odstępach dwudniowych. Lęg jest większy w latach obfitości myszy.
Jaja są wysiadywane wyłącznie przez samicę, od złożenia pierwszego jaja przez ok. 27-28 dni[3].
Wylęgają się stopniowo, więc są w różnym stopniu rozwinięte. Matka w tym czasie praktycznie nie opuszcza ich i ogrzewa pisklęta oraz karmi je pokarmem dzielonym na małe kawałki. Samiec dostarcza wtedy pożywienie karmiąc i samicę, i potomstwo. Z czasem również samica zaczyna polować dla swych młodych, bo te stopniowo mają coraz większe zapotrzebowania żywieniowe. Gdy potomstwo podrośnie potrafi już samo ćwiartkować pokarm. Dieta młodych jest taka sama jak ptaków dorosłych. Pisklęta wychodzą z gniazda na pobliskie gałęzie po ok. 25 dniach, są tam karmione przez rodziców. Już w jasnym puchu u piskląt widać uszy z piór. Po ok. 35 dniach od wyklucia potrafią już latać, pomimo, że pokryte są jeszcze białym puchem. Młode stają się niezależne od rodziców po ok. 2 miesiącach.
Najdłużej żyjąca sowa uszata, której wiek oznaczył człowiek, miała 27 lat[4].
Objęta ochroną gatunkową ścisłą.
Najlepszą metodą ochrony uszatki jest pozostawianie drzew z gniazdami po ptakach krukowatych oraz ogólnie utrzymanie krajobrazu rolniczego z mozaiką pól, łąk, zadrzewień i zakrzaczeń. Ponadto w Polsce prowadzone są programy ochronne, polegające na wieszaniu koszy wiklinowych, które uszatki wykorzystują jako miejsca do gniazdowania. Wprowadzeniu ochrony pomagało zauważenie korzyści wiążących się z obecnością tego ptaka - ogranicza liczbę szkodliwych gryzoni (oszacowano, że w ciągu jednego lata może złapać ok. 1000).
Wyróżnia się 4 podgatunki, zamieszkujące odpowiednio:
Uszatka zwyczajna, sowa uszata, uszatka (Asio otus) – gatunek ptaka drapieżnego z rodziny puszczykowatych (Strigidae).
A coruja-pequena, bufo-pequeno, Coruja-de-orelha ou mocho-pequeno (Asio otus) é uma espécie de ave estrigiforme pertencente à família Strigidae. Esta coruja habita a Europa e América do Norte e é parcialmente migratória.[2]
Tem uma envergadura de asa de entre 86 e 98 centímetros e é do mesmo tamanho do que a coruja-das-torres. Tem olhos cor-de-laranja e pequenos tufos são vulgarmente designados “orelhas”.[3]
Os adultos são bastante silenciosos. Já as crias podem ser ouvidas a pedir comida. Os sons que emitem fazem lembrar um miar.[3]
A estimativa populacional em Portugal é de entre 200 a 1.000 casais.[3]
A coruja-pequena, bufo-pequeno, Coruja-de-orelha ou mocho-pequeno (Asio otus) é uma espécie de ave estrigiforme pertencente à família Strigidae. Esta coruja habita a Europa e América do Norte e é parcialmente migratória.
Tem uma envergadura de asa de entre 86 e 98 centímetros e é do mesmo tamanho do que a coruja-das-torres. Tem olhos cor-de-laranja e pequenos tufos são vulgarmente designados “orelhas”.
Os adultos são bastante silenciosos. Já as crias podem ser ouvidas a pedir comida. Os sons que emitem fazem lembrar um miar.
A estimativa populacional em Portugal é de entre 200 a 1.000 casais.
Ciuful de padure (Asio otus) este o pasăre răpitoare de noapte din familia bufnițelor (Strigidae), ordinul strigiformelor (Strigiformes) , sedentară, răspândită în Europa, Asia, Africa de Nord și America de Nord. Are o mărimea de 36 cm (între guguștiuc și porumbel). Coloritul corpului pe spate este ruginiu-gălbui deschis cu desene cenușii și brune, în formă de dungi subțiri, longitudinale; abdomenul roșiatic sau ruginiu-gălbui, amestecată cu alb, cu dungi longitudinale. Ciocul este brun, iar picioarele galben-ruginii. Urechile sunt înalte și întunecate, fața este înconjurată cu penaj galben, ochii sunt mari și aurii. Trăiește în pâlcuri de păduri, câmp deschis, zone mlăștinoase, parcuri, livezi, dumbrăvi. Cuibărește în pâlcurile de păduri folosind cuiburile vechi ale altor păsări: ciori, coțofene sau cele de veveriță, rar pe pământ, la baza trunchiurilor sau în iarba înaltă. Se hrănește cu șoareci în proporție de 90%, păsări mici. Duce viață arboricolă nocturnă. Ziua nu vânează ci stă așezat lângă trunchiul vreunui arbore, în caz de pericol înălțându-se și ridicându-și urechile. Strigă numai lângă cuib, unde se aude un "hu-uu", dar și miorlăituri, plesnituri din aripi etc. Depune 4-6 ouă la intervale de 2 zile, începând din mijlocul lui martie până la începutul lui aprilie. Ouăle sunt scurt eliptice, netede, cu pori fini, albe. Incubația durează 27-32 de zile. Clocitul este asigurat numai de femelă. Are loc o clocire pe an, iar în condiții de hrană bogată și două. Puii sunt nidicoli și sunt hrăniți de femelă cu hrana adusă de mascul.
În România și Republica Moldova trăiește subspecia Asio otus otus (Linnaeus, 1758), fiind răspândită în ținuturile de joasă altitudine și stă tot timpul anului; în iernile aspre, multe exemplare nordice se adaugă populațiilor noastre sau trec chiar mai spre sud, iernând în sudul Africii și în sud-vestul Asiei.
Ciuful de padure (Asio otus) este o pasăre răpitoare de noapte din familia bufnițelor (Strigidae), ordinul strigiformelor (Strigiformes) , sedentară, răspândită în Europa, Asia, Africa de Nord și America de Nord. Are o mărimea de 36 cm (între guguștiuc și porumbel). Coloritul corpului pe spate este ruginiu-gălbui deschis cu desene cenușii și brune, în formă de dungi subțiri, longitudinale; abdomenul roșiatic sau ruginiu-gălbui, amestecată cu alb, cu dungi longitudinale. Ciocul este brun, iar picioarele galben-ruginii. Urechile sunt înalte și întunecate, fața este înconjurată cu penaj galben, ochii sunt mari și aurii. Trăiește în pâlcuri de păduri, câmp deschis, zone mlăștinoase, parcuri, livezi, dumbrăvi. Cuibărește în pâlcurile de păduri folosind cuiburile vechi ale altor păsări: ciori, coțofene sau cele de veveriță, rar pe pământ, la baza trunchiurilor sau în iarba înaltă. Se hrănește cu șoareci în proporție de 90%, păsări mici. Duce viață arboricolă nocturnă. Ziua nu vânează ci stă așezat lângă trunchiul vreunui arbore, în caz de pericol înălțându-se și ridicându-și urechile. Strigă numai lângă cuib, unde se aude un "hu-uu", dar și miorlăituri, plesnituri din aripi etc. Depune 4-6 ouă la intervale de 2 zile, începând din mijlocul lui martie până la începutul lui aprilie. Ouăle sunt scurt eliptice, netede, cu pori fini, albe. Incubația durează 27-32 de zile. Clocitul este asigurat numai de femelă. Are loc o clocire pe an, iar în condiții de hrană bogată și două. Puii sunt nidicoli și sunt hrăniți de femelă cu hrana adusă de mascul.
În România și Republica Moldova trăiește subspecia Asio otus otus (Linnaeus, 1758), fiind răspândită în ținuturile de joasă altitudine și stă tot timpul anului; în iernile aspre, multe exemplare nordice se adaugă populațiilor noastre sau trec chiar mai spre sud, iernând în sudul Africii și în sud-vestul Asiei.
Myšiarka ušatá alebo sova ušatá[3] (lat. Asio otus) je stredne veľký druh sovy z čeľade sovovitých hnedého a čierneho sfarbenia s charakteristickým predĺženým operením okolo ušných otvorov, vďaka ktorému získal svoj názov v mnohých svetových jazykoch.
Na území Slovenska ide o jednu z najčastejších a najrozšírenejších sov vôbec. Jej prirodzeným biotopom sú prevažne riedko porastené otvorené kultúrnej krajiny, cez deň sa často zdržiava v lesoch. Obýva všetky kontinenty severnej pologule a izolovane sa vyskytuje aj v Afrike, na svojom areáli rozšírenia pritom tvoria celkovo 4 poddruhy.
Je aktívna za súmraku a v noci, v zime cez deň, pritom sa často zdržiava v menších skupinách. V jej potrave sa najčastejšie objavujú hlodavce, vďaka čomu je považovaná za užitočnú, ale požiera aj iné cicavce, menšie druhy vtákov a hmyz. Na hniezdenie využíva najčastejšie opustené hniezda krkavcovitých vtákov, kam kladie 3 – 7 svetlých vajec.
Podľa Medzinárodnej únie na ochranu prírody a prírodných zdrojov myšiarka ušatá patrí medzi najmenej ohrozené druhy, trend celkovej populácie je klesajúci, európska populácia má neznámy trend, v severnej Amerike jej početnosť za posledných 40 rokov mierne, štatisticky nevýznamne, poklesla.[1]
Myšiarka ušatá patrí medzi stredne veľké druhy sov. Čo do veľkosti je porovnateľný s holubom domácim (Columba livia f. domestica) alebo s blízko príbuznou sovou obyčajnou (Strix aluco), v porovnaní s ňou je však zreteľne štíhlejšia. Dĺžka jeho tela je 35 – 40, priemerne teda 38 cm a rozpätie krídel meria 90 – 100 cm. Hmotnosť u samcov sa pohybuje medzi 220 – 305 g, u samíc potom medzi 260 – 435 g[4]
Tak ako všetky druhy sov má aj myšiarka ušatá skvele vyvinutý sluch a zrak, svoju korisť dokáže dokonca lokalizovať aj v úplnej tme.[5] Významne jej pritom napomáha asymetrické umiestnenie ušných dutín, kedy ľavá je výrazne vyššie položená ako tá pravá. Zaujímavé je tiež to, že má zrak uspôsobený k videniu na väčšie vzdialenosti, pričom na blízko vidí zle. Ďalšími znakmi typické pre väčšinu sov sú ostré pazúry na silných končatinách a ostrý zahnutý zobák.[6]
Je porastená hustým, veľmi mäkkým perím svetlo až tmavo hnedého sfarbenia. Vrchná časť tela je pritom tmavšie s rôznorodou kresbou, spodina tela je zase posiata množstvom čiernych pozdĺžnych škvŕn. Jeho charakteristickým znakom sú dlhé perá okolo uší, ktoré však, hoci tak vyzerajú, nemajú žiadny podiel na lepšej kvalite sluchu. Nápadný je tiež jej oválny tvar tváre s dobre viditeľným bielym perím v závoji okolo žltočervených očí v tvare písmena X.
Obe pohlavia sú si veľmi podobné, samice sú však na prednej strane tela nepatrne tmavšie, mláďatá v prachovom šate sú celé svetlé s tmavým operením okolo očí a mladí vtáci majú v porovnaní s dospelými zase voľnejšie perie.[7]
Lieta veľmi ticho. V lete sa dá rozoznať od iných sov podľa silnej hlavy, dlhých úzkych krídel a pomalého mávanie krídel, jej dlhá perá na hlave však viditeľná nie sú, za letu ich totiž drží tesne pri hlave.[7]
na nahrávke je len šum
Hlas samca a tlieskanie krídlami
Ozýva sa zriedkakedy, ale jej hlas je väčšinou počuteľný aj na väčšiu vzdialenosť. Samce vydávajú krátke, tlmené, pravidelne sa niekoľkokrát za sebou opakujúce „hú“, samice sa ozývajú ešte menej ako samce a ich hlasový prejav sa podobá pískaniu na hrebeň. Mláďatá na hniezde sa potom potravy dožadujú nariekavým kolísavým pískavým „Pui“.[8][9]
Myšiarka ušatá je veľmi rozšírenú sovou vyskytujúce sa na všetkých kontinentoch severnej pologule a izolovane aj na území severnej Afriky. Obýva takmer celú Európu, úplne chýba najmä v najsevernejších oblastiach, do Ázie zasahuje v podobe širokého pruhu siahajúceho od jej západnej časti až po Japonsko, v Severnej Amerike je potom zastúpený na väčšine územia Spojených štátov, na severe Mexika a tiež najmä na juhu Kanady. Vzhľadom k značnej rozlohe nie je doteraz známa veľkosť jeho areálu rozšírenia, presne vyčíslenie nie je ani jeho globálna početnosť, je však predbežne odhadovaný zhruba na 1 500 000 – 5 000 000 jedincov. Počet hniezdiacich párov v Európe, ktorá predstavuje 25 – 49 % jeho globálneho rozsahu, je potom odhadovaný na 380 000 – 810 000, teda 1 140 000 – 2 430 000 jedincov.[10]
U jej globálnej populácie bol v poslednej dobe zaznamenaný viditeľný pokles, nie je však považovaný za nijako drastický, a preto je v Červenom zozname IUCN stále radená do kategórie málo ohrozených druhov.[10] Najčastejšími príčinami úmrtia tohto druhu pritom bývajú predátori (pozri nižšie), strata prirodzeného biotopu a nedostatok potravy, veľmi často aj kolízie s vozidlami.[4]
Myšiarka ušatá je prevažne stály vták, severské populácie však migrujú, a to najmä na územie Mexika, Indie, severnej Afriky a južnej Európy.[11]
Myšiarka ušatá prednostne obýva okraje lesov v blízkosti otvorených krajín s nízkou vegetáciou, ako sú polia alebo lúky, vyskytuje sa tiež v močiaroch, väčších parkoch, húštinách a skupinách ihličnatých stromov. V zime sa často sťahuje bližšie k ľudským obydliam a môže byť preto zaznamenaný aj v mestách.[12][7]
Na území Slovenska je myšiarka ušatá po celý rok široko rozšírená. Je tiež vôbec našou druhou najhojnejšia sovou, hneď po sove obyčajnej, na Slovensku hniezdi po nadmorskú výšku 1 000 m.[13] Cez zimu na naše územie navyše zalietavajú i vtáky zo severnej a východnej Európy. Jeho populácia je však v súčasnej dobe tu podobne ako na území mnohých štátov na poklese.[13] Odhadovaný počet hniezdiacich párov je 2 500 - 4 000, zimujúcich jedincov 7 000 - 10 000. Veľkosť populácie i územie na ktorom sa vyskytuje sú stabilné, maximálna zmena do 20%. Ekosozologický status v roku 1995 žiadny. V roku 1998 žiadny.[14] V roku 2001 žiadny.[15] V roku 2014 LC - menej dotknutý.[2][16][17] Európsky ochranársky status nezaradený SPEC. Stupeň ohrozenia S - vyhovujúci ochranársky status.[14]
Myšiarka ušatá je veľmi skryto žijúci vták s nočnou aktivitou (výnimku tvorí obdobie, keď migruje[4] a obdobia, kedy obstaráva potravu pre mláďatá). Deň trávi väčšinou vysoko na stromoch v tesnej blízkosti kmeňa, kde je vďaka svojmu hnedému sfarbenie a štíhlemu telu veľmi ťažko spozorovateľná. Pri priamom ohrození sa našuchorí, čím opticky zväčšuje svoju veľkosť, syčí a klape zobákom. Toto obranné správanie možno pritom pozorovať už aj u mláďat v hniezde. V zime sa často združuje do malých skupín, ktoré cez deň oddychujú v tesnej blízkosti pri sebe.[13]
Myšiarka ušatá sa občas stáva korisťou veľkých dravcov, ako sú napr. orly, jastraby, sokoly sťahovavé (Falco peregrinus) a občas dokonca aj iných druhov sov, najmä potom výra virgínskeho (Bubo virginianus). Pre vajcia a mláďatá v hniezde potom predstavujú najväčšiu hrozbu krkavcovité (Corvidae) a medvedíky čistotné (Procyon lotor).[7]
Viac ako 90%[12] všetkej potravy myšiarky ušatej tvoria drobné hlodavce, najčastejšie hraboše, myšice, norníci, mladé potkany hnedé (Rattus norvegicus) a potkany tmavé. Ďalej sú v jeho potrave zastúpené aj iné malé cicavce, ako sú napr. veverice, mladé králiky, piskory, čipmankovia či krtkovia, ale svoje menšinové zastúpenie tu majú aj netopiere, vtáky až do veľkosti drozda čierneho (Turdus merula) alebo škorca (Sturnus sp.) (hoci tu prevládajú malí speváci, ako sú vrabce (Passer sp.) alebo pinkovité (Fringillidae),[12] hmyz (napr. chrobáky) a obojživelníky (najčastejšie žaby). Na svoju korisť pritom číha z vyvýšeného miesta a potom, čo ju zaznamená, na ňu veľmi rýchlo útočí. Následne ju usmrcuje pomocou svojich ostrých pazúrov a silného zobáka a pokiaľ je to možné, tak ju prehĺta celú naraz, ak nie, odnáša ju vo svojich pazúroch na vyvýšené miesto, kde ju postupne požiera.[18][11]
Nestráviteľných zvyškov, ako sú napr. kosti alebo srsť, sa následne zbavuje zhruba dvakrát za 24 hodín[19] v podobe 5,1 x 1,9 cm veľkých,[18] pozdĺžnych, šedých chuchvalcov známych ako vývržky (pozri obrázok). Tieto vývržky sú nielen dobrým zdrojom informácií o jeho hojnosti v rôznych lokalitách, ale na základe nájdených zvyškov v nich je možné zistiť, aká korisť je v jeho potrave v danej oblasti zastúpená najpočetnejšie.
Pohlavne dospieva vo veku jedného roka. Už v novembri pritom samce začínajú vyhľadávať vhodné miesto na zahniezdenie. Pri dvorení, ktoré občas začína už počas januára,[7] samec v tesnej blízkosti hniezda vo vzduchu tlieska krídlami pod telom a klape zobákom a snaží sa tak upútať pozornosť samice. Počas obdobia hniezda myšiarka ušatá obhajuje len malé teritórium v tesnej blízkosti hniezda, občas hniezdi aj niekoľko párov neďaleko od seba. Sú pritom monogamne, bola u nich však pozorovaná už aj polygamia.[7]
Hniezdi obvykle raz, v prípade veľkej hojnosti potravy aj dvakrát ročne, a to v rozmedzí od marca do júna. Vlastné hniezdo takmer vždy nestavia, namiesto toho využíva už opustené hniezda krkavcovitých vtákov (prevažne vrán, havranov a strák), ale aj myšiakov, veveričie a volavčie, zriedkakedy zahniezdia aj v trhline v skale, v dutine stromu alebo na zemi.[12][11]
Samica kladie každý druhý deň, 3 – 7 bielych, zaoblených, 40 x 32 mm veľkých a 23 g ťažkých (z toho 7 % tvorí škrupina)[20] na vajciach, sedí sama po dobu 27 – 28 dní. Keďže však začína sedieť už na prvom vajci, medzi mláďatami je následne dobre viditeľný vekový rozdiel. Počas obdobia, kedy samica vykonáva inkubáciu, jej samec do hniezda nosí potravu a následne z veľkej časti obstaráva potravu aj pre už vyliahnuté mláďatá, zatiaľ čo samica sa obvykle nevzďaľuje ďaleko od hniezda. V prípade, že je v blízkosti hniezda predátor, výhražne syčí a našuchorí perie alebo predvádza známu obrannú techniku, kedy predstiera neschopnosť letu a predátora odláka do bezpečnej vzdialenosti od vajec alebo mláďat. Vo veku 3-4 týždňov pomaly začínajú mladé Myšiarky opúšťať hniezdo a zdržujú sa na konároch v jeho blízkosti, po ktorých dokážu šplhať aj pomocou svojho silného zobáku. Vo veku približne 5 týždňov už dokáže vzlietnuť a o 1 – 2 týždne neskôr sa plne osamostatňujú.[20][7][12]
Myšiarka ušatá sa vo voľnej prírode dožíva priemerne 4 rokov,[20] v zajatí sa však môže dožiť aj viac ako 20 rokov.[7] Zatiaľ najstarší vo voľnej prírode zaznamenaný jedinec pochádza z Fínska s vekom celých 17 rokov a 11 mesiacov.[21]
Myšiarka ušatá je typickým zástupcom radu sov (Strigiformes), čeľade Sovovitých (Strigidae) a rodu Asio, kam zaraďujeme celkom 7 druhov „ušatých“ sov. Jej binomické meno, Asio otus, ktoré druhu prisúdil švédsky prírodovedec Carl Linné roku 1758 vo svojom diele Systema naturae, je pritom odvodené z gréckeho asio, názvu použitom pri popise myšiarky ušatej Plíniusom starším, a otus, z latinského výrazu pre sovu s výraznými ušami.[20]
Podľa fosílnych záznamov sa tu pritom vyskytoval už v období poslednej doby ľadovej, teda pred 10 000 – 120 000 rokmi.[20] Bol prečítaný mitochondriálny génom Myšiarky ušatej a močiarnej;[22] na základe týchto a ďalších dát sa zatiaľ javí ako najpríbuznejší myšiarke ušatej druh myšiarka krikľavá (Asio clamator), ale podpora je slabá a dát nie je veľa.[23]
Tvorí celkom 4 poddruhy[24][20] (niektoré zdroje však uvádzajú poddruhov až šesť, z toho posledný – Asio (otus) madagascariensis – býva niektorými zoológmi považovaný za samostatný druh),[7] z toho 2 sú zastúpené na východnej a 2 na západnej pologuli (na Slovensku sa vyskytuje prvý zmieňovaný):
Commons ponúka multimediálne súbory na tému Myšiarka ušatá
Wikidruhy ponúkajú informácie na tému Myšiarka ušatá
Myšiarka ušatá alebo sova ušatá (lat. Asio otus) je stredne veľký druh sovy z čeľade sovovitých hnedého a čierneho sfarbenia s charakteristickým predĺženým operením okolo ušných otvorov, vďaka ktorému získal svoj názov v mnohých svetových jazykoch.
Na území Slovenska ide o jednu z najčastejších a najrozšírenejších sov vôbec. Jej prirodzeným biotopom sú prevažne riedko porastené otvorené kultúrnej krajiny, cez deň sa často zdržiava v lesoch. Obýva všetky kontinenty severnej pologule a izolovane sa vyskytuje aj v Afrike, na svojom areáli rozšírenia pritom tvoria celkovo 4 poddruhy.
Je aktívna za súmraku a v noci, v zime cez deň, pritom sa často zdržiava v menších skupinách. V jej potrave sa najčastejšie objavujú hlodavce, vďaka čomu je považovaná za užitočnú, ale požiera aj iné cicavce, menšie druhy vtákov a hmyz. Na hniezdenie využíva najčastejšie opustené hniezda krkavcovitých vtákov, kam kladie 3 – 7 svetlých vajec.
Podľa Medzinárodnej únie na ochranu prírody a prírodných zdrojov myšiarka ušatá patrí medzi najmenej ohrozené druhy, trend celkovej populácie je klesajúci, európska populácia má neznámy trend, v severnej Amerike jej početnosť za posledných 40 rokov mierne, štatisticky nevýznamne, poklesla.
Mala uharica (znanstveno ime Asio otus). Zanimivo je, da ta sova brez uhljev tako dobro sliši. Pojasnilo je v tem, da imata levo in desno uho različna položaja v lobanji. Zvok prestreza s širokimi lici in ga usmerja v ušesni bobnič. Živi v iglastih in mešanih gozdovih. Zraste lahko do dolžine 36 cm in teže 178 do 435 g. Razpon peruti je od 90 do 100 cm. Živi lahko do 28 let. V Sloveniji spada med ogrožene in zavarovane vrste.
Wikimedijina zbirka ponuja več predstavnostnega gradiva o temi: Mala uharicaHornuggla (Asio otus) är en fågel tillhörande familjen ugglor. Den häckar i Europa, Asien och Nordamerika. Till största delen är den flyttfågel.
Hornugglan är en medelstor uggla som mäter 31–37 cm, har ett vingspann på 86–98 cm och väger 245–400 gram. Den har långa örontofsar som kan resas och riktas uppåt. Honorna är större än hanen och har mörkare fjäderdräkt. Hornugglans brunaktiga fjädrar är vertikalt streckade. Fågeln är spräcklig och vattrad i svartbrunt, rostgult och vitt på ovansidan. Bröst och buk är rostgula och vita med svartbruna längsfläckar. Tarsen och tårna är helt fjäderklädda. På den sittande fågeln når vingen nedanför stjärten. Den andra handpennan är inskuren i det yttre fanet, den första i det inre. Ett kännetecken är också dess orangefärgade lysande iris.
Hornugglan är svårsedd dagtid då den kamouflerar sig genom att sitta på en trädgren tätt intill stammen. Den drar då ihop fjäderdräkten och kroppen vilket ger den ett mycket smalt och avlångt utseende. Under flyttningen kan den vara lättare att observera då den sträcker över land och nära kusten.
Hornuggla påträffas över stora delar av Palearktis, i norra Afrika, Europa och i norra Asien så långt österut som till Kina och Japan, samt i söder till nordvästra Indien. Den förekommer även över stora delar av Nordamerika så långt söderut som norra Mexiko. De populationer som häckar i nordligare regioner är flyttfåglar eller uppträder nomadiskt under dåliga sorkår. De sydligare populationerna är stannfåglar.
Hornugglan delas in i fyra underarter[2]
Tidigare behandlades etiopisk hornuggla (A. abyssinicus) med sina två underarter abyssinicus och graueri som underarter till hornuggla.[3]
Hornugglan är ganska vanlig i södra och mellersta Sverige, upp till ungefär 62° nordlig bredd. Större delen av den svenska stammen flyttar söderut på hösten men några övervintrar i södra Sverige, främst i Skåne.
Hornugglan undviker starkt ljus och tillbringar ofta dagen sovande i träd, som exempelvis tall. I skymningen flyger den ut för att söka efter föda, som framför allt består av mindre däggdjur som sork men även insekter.
Häckningssäsongen infaller i Europa vanligtvis mellan februari till juli och i Nordamerika från mars till maj. Den placerar sitt rede i övergivna bon efter andra fåglar, exempelvis av kråkfåglar eller hökar och allra oftast i barrträd. Den lägger i snitt 3–5 ägg som ruvas av honan i 25–30 dagar.[3] Ungarna tas om hand av båda föräldrarna.[3]
Hornugglan har ett mycket stort häckningsområde och den har en stor global population. Den Europeiska populationen uppskattas till 304 000–776 000 par vilket innebär 609 000–1 550 000 adulta individer. Eftersom Europa utgör cirka 28 procent av det globala utbredningsområdet är en uppskattning att den globala populationen består av 2 180 000–5 540 000 adulta individer, men detta är osäkra siffror.[1]
Den amerikanska populationen har genomgått en svag minskning under de senaste 40 åren medan den europeiska utvecklingstrenden är stabil.[1] IUCN bedömer hornugglan som ohotad och kategoriserar arten som livskraftig.[1]
Dialektalt har hornuggla i trakten kring Abbekås kallats kuderusk.[4] I trakten av Kullen betyder dock kuderusk istället skäggsimpa.
Hornuggla (Asio otus) är en fågel tillhörande familjen ugglor. Den häckar i Europa, Asien och Nordamerika. Till största delen är den flyttfågel.
Kulaklı orman baykuşu (Asio otus), baykuşgiller (Strigidae) familyasından büyük, dimdik duran ve gece gezen bir baykuş türü.
Istrahat halinde toparlak görünür, ancak uyarı halinde gergin, ince ve dimdik durur. Uyarı halinde iken kulak tüylerini dikleştirir ve koyu turuncu gözlerinin üstündeki siyah beyaz yüz deseniyle bir ‘V’ oluşturur. Oldukça benekli ve çizgilidir, alt tarafı kır baykuşundan daha koyudur. Kanatlarda kır baykuşundakine benzer el bileği lekesi vardır, primerleri daha parlak turuncu-kirli sarıdır ve beyaz firar hattı yoktur. Gür, inlemeye benzeyen ve kısa bir ötüşü vardır.
Kulaklı orman baykuşu (Asio otus), baykuşgiller (Strigidae) familyasından büyük, dimdik duran ve gece gezen bir baykuş türü.
Istrahat halinde toparlak görünür, ancak uyarı halinde gergin, ince ve dimdik durur. Uyarı halinde iken kulak tüylerini dikleştirir ve koyu turuncu gözlerinin üstündeki siyah beyaz yüz deseniyle bir ‘V’ oluşturur. Oldukça benekli ve çizgilidir, alt tarafı kır baykuşundan daha koyudur. Kanatlarda kır baykuşundakine benzer el bileği lekesi vardır, primerleri daha parlak turuncu-kirli sarıdır ve beyaz firar hattı yoktur. Gür, inlemeye benzeyen ve kısa bir ötüşü vardır.
Це сова середнього розміру (менший за ворону сіру). Забарвлення досить строкате з домінуванням рудих тонів. Спина сірувато-бура з рудим відтінком, груди і черевце руді або жовтуваті з продовгуватими чорними смугами, які перекреслені плоскими поперечними штрихами. Низ черевця і підхвістя білі. Хвіст знизу жовтуватий з рівномірною темною смугастістю. Очі жовто-помаранчеві. Дзьоб темно-сірий або чорнуватий. Лицевий диск рудо-сіруватий, обрамлений білою і чорною смугами. Довкола очей чорні півмісяці зі сторони дзьоба. Під дзьобом чорне пір'я. Між очима білі валики у вигляді півмісяців. Пір'яні «вушка» довгі. Коли птаха сидить, вона добре відрізняється від інших своєю манерою сидіння — стовпчиком з витягнутими вертикально вверх пір'яними вушками.
Самки більші самців, але забарвлені так само.
Маса самців сови вухатої — 0,16-0,33 кг, самок — 0,18-0,43 кг, довжина 35-37 см, крило самців — 27,6-31,0 см, самок — 28,2-32,2 см, розмах — 84-95 см.
Пташенята в першому пуховому вбранні білі, мають білий дзьоб з легким сірим нальотом, який з віком темніє, в другому пуховому вбранні — світло-сірі з рудим відтінком і деякою рябизною, великими чорними полями довкола очей, що з'єднуються під дзьобом, білим пір'ям між очима над наддзьобком, сірим дзьобом і добре вираженими пуховими «вушками».
Крила доволі довгі (довші, ніж у сичів), знизу світлі, але не білі, як у сови болотяної (Asio flammeus), з рудим відтінком, чорними плямами на згинах. Знизу на хвості 7 темних смуг і ще 2-3 приховані (у сови болотяної 3 смуги і 1-2 приховані).
Шлюбний сигнал самця — монотонне низьке «укання». Під час токування в проміжках між звуками часто літає і хлопає крилами. Самка видає плакучий звук «няяя», часто в дуеті з самцем. Крик хвилювання — різке «квяк», «квяк-квяк». Пташенята тонко свистять, при чому інтонація свисту залежить від віку.
Поширені вухаті сови в Європі та Північній Азії, на північ від межі високостовбурового лісу до Охотського узбережжя, Примор'я та Японії (Хоккайдо), на південь до Іраку, Середньої Азії, Гімалаїв, Китаю. Мешкає також в Північній Африці на Канарських островах, у Північній Америці.
Сова вухата — типовий лісовий вид.
Для полювання сові вухатій потрібні відкриті простори, а тому, суцільних лісів вона уникає.
Максимальної чисельності досягає, як правило, в заплавних лісах, особливо в степовій і тайговій зоні.
Більшість птахів гніздиться в заплавних або водороздільних лісосмугах площею від 0,01 до 100 га або шириною близько 10-100 м, рідше на галявинах великих лісових масивів, в групах з 2-5 дерев і, дуже рідко, на поодиноких деревах. У останні десятиріччя почала оселятися у парках населених пунктів.
Гнізда влаштовує в основному в спорудах ворон сірих (Corvus cornix) і сорок (Pica pica), рідше граків (Corvus frugilegus). Дуже рідко займає гнізда інших птахів. Займаючи гнізда сорок сова зазвичай злегка розриває їхній дах.
У кладці від 3 до 9, частіше 4-6 яєць білого забарвлення. Під час висиджування деякі яйця забруднюються і стають брудно-білі.
Відстань між гніздами різних пар в щільних гніздових угрупуваннях коливається від 100 до 800 м, у менш насичених — від 0,8 до 3 км.
Характерною рисою сов вухатих є збирання у групи на денний відпочинок. Найчастіше групи відпочиваючих сов можна зустріти у осінньо-зимовий період. Інколи в них нараховується до 100 і більше особин.
Asio otus là một loài chim trong họ Strigidae.[2]
Впервые этот вид был описан в 1758 году Карлом Линнеем.[2]
长耳鸮，学名Asio otus，又名长耳木兔、有耳麦猫王、虎鵵、彪木兔、夜猫子、猫头鹰、肖尔腾－伊巴拉格。
长耳鸮喜栖息在阔叶或针叶乔木的高枝上，而且他们的栖息地往往非常精确地固定，甚至固定到某一树枝，以至于在他们的固定居索的垂直下方遍布他们或拉或吐的排泄物，常常污秽不堪，成为搜寻他们的线索。
长耳鸮常见于北半球，分布于整个欧亚大陆、環地中海、土耳其、非洲北部、帕米爾高原、印度西北部、西伯利亞、库页岛、日本、韓國、中国東半部及台灣；北美洲的加拿大和美国北部；族群數量大約有50,000隻。
长耳鸮是中等体形的鸮类，体长约35－40厘米。与其他大多数鸮类一样，长耳鸮的颜色也是非常暗哑的褐色和黑色，上体以棕褐色为基色具黑色棕斑，下体色较浅，以黄褐色为基色，具较细弱的黑色纵斑；双足被羽，直至足趾；长耳鸮的辨识特征主要集中在面部，耳鸮属鸟类的面盘大多非常明显。所谓面盘是鸮类面部一圈特殊的羽毛，非常紧密地排布在一起成一个平面，形成貌似猫脸的结构。在头部两侧的是长耳鸮非常大的耳孔，隐藏在耳羽之下。有趣的是，鸮类的两个耳孔不仅形状大小不同，连高度也各不相同，这对产生立体听觉，并依靠这种听力定位、捕食有非常重要的作用；在长耳鸮的面盘上，双眼之间的羽毛白色，形成一个大大的白色“X”这是其他鸮类所不具有的；本物种头顶有两簇黑黄相间的耳状羽，耳状羽很长，高高的树立在头顶非常显眼，但是必须指出的是这两簇耳状羽和耳朵没有任何关系，只是因为他们高高地树立在头顶，看起来很像哺乳动物的耳朵人们才习惯称它们为耳羽，而真正的耳羽是掩盖耳孔的羽毛。虹膜为橙黄色；喙角质灰色；脚粉黄色。长耳鸮在栖止状态时，身体树立，基本与地面垂直，这是区别本物种与近似的短耳鸮的一个重要特征，后者几乎是以平行于地面的姿态扒在树干上的。
所有的鸮形目鸟类均为典型的肉食性鸟类，长耳鸮的食物以各种鼠类为主，还包括小型鸟类，通过分析他们的唾余，人们发现长耳鸮的食谱以黑线姬鼠为主，还包括小麝鼩、小家鼠、褐家鼠等啮齿类，蝙蝠、棕头鸦雀、麻雀、燕雀等小型鸟兽。笔者在分析栖息于北京天坛公园内长耳鸮的唾余时甚至发现了灰喜鹊的残肢，说明长耳鸮有可能捕猎体形较大的鸟类，或有食腐行为。
繁殖细节不详，多占用乌鸦或喜鹊的弃巢产卵繁殖，每巢产卵4－5枚，孵化期约26－28天。
长耳鸮，学名Asio otus，又名长耳木兔、有耳麦猫王、虎鵵、彪木兔、夜猫子、猫头鹰、肖尔腾－伊巴拉格。
トラフズク（虎斑木菟、Asio otus）は、フクロウ目フクロウ科トラフズク属に分類される鳥。トラフズク属の模式種。
ユーラシア大陸、アメリカ合衆国、エジプト、カナダ、台湾、日本、メキシコ、モロッコ
主に生息地では周年生息するが、冬季に獲物を求めて不規則に渡りを行うこともある。日本では基亜種が周年生息する（留鳥）で、寒冷地に分布する個体は冬季に南下する。
全長38cm。頭部から背面の羽毛は灰褐色で、褐色の縦縞が入る。腹面の羽毛は黄褐色で、黒褐色の縦縞が入る。
虹彩はオレンジ色。外耳状の羽毛（羽角）は発達する。
21亜種に分けられるとされる。
針葉樹林や広葉樹林に生息する。単独もしくはペアで生活するが、冬季には小規模な群れを形成し集団で眠る。夜行性で、昼間は樹上で休む。鳴き声は日本語圏では低音で「ウーウー」と聞こえる。
繁殖形態は卵生。他の鳥やリスの古巣や地面の窪みに1回に4-5個の卵を産む。メスのみが抱卵し、抱卵期間は25-30日。オスは巣の周囲で見張りを行ったり、メスや雛に食物を運ぶ。生後1年程で性成熟する。
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칡부엉이는 올빼미과의 새이다.학명은 Asio otus otus (LINNAEUS.)이며 1982년 천연기념물 제324호로 지정하여 보호받고 있다.
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