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Long-eared Owl Asio otus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Strigidae
BTO Codes:
LE , LOEOW
EURING No:
7670
Number in Britain:
2400 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
otus recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
36 cm
Wingspan:
95 cm
Weight:
M/F: 290 g
Scientific name from:
L.: asio =a horned owl described by Pliny
and Gr.: otos =an eared owl
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, n&c Asia, North America, WINTERS: n Africa, s Asia, c Mexico
Habitat:
Coniferous & mixed woodland
Diet:
Small mammals, esp. voles, also some birds; nocturnal
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
1100 to 3600 pairs
in 1988-91
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
1544
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
230 to 460 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), CITES(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
40 x 32 mm
Egg Weight:
23.0 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
17
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.76 ± 0.96 (2 - 6) N = 161
Incubation:
28 days
27.64 ± 1.68 (25 - 31) N = 161
by the:
Female
Fledging:
29 - 34 days
30.52 ± 2.70 (27 - 35) N = 310
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
12 Apr (19 Mar - 9 May)
Number of Broods:
1(2)
Number Ringed:
93
Adult Survival:
0.69
Juvenile Survival:
0.480 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
4
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
12yr10m
(Finland: 17yr 11m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
G
Wing Length
Adult:
298.9 ± 7.6
Range
287 - 312 mm, N =138
Juvenile:
298.5 ± 12.1
274 - 312 mm, N =52
Male:
296.1 ± 7.1
285 - 312 mm, N =35
Female:
300.2 ± 7.6
288 - 312 mm, N =81
Weight
Adult:
288.8 ± 39.54
Range
215.0 - 347.0 g , N =125
Juvenile:
280.7 ± 31.35
223.0 - 333.0 g , N =39
Male:
265.8 ± 41.69
186.0 - 329.0 g , N =33
Female:
299.7 ± 35.08 .
245.0 - 365.0 g , N =76
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Comhachag-adharcach
Welsh:
Tylluan Gorniog
Danish:
Skovhornugle
Dutch:
Ransuil
Finnish:
Sarvipöllö
French:
Hibou moyen-duc
German:
Waldohreule
Hungarian:
Erdei fülesbagoly
Icelandic:
Eyrugla
Irish:
Ceann Cait
Italian:
Gufo comune
Norwegian:
Hornugle
Polish:
Sowa uszata (uszatka zwyczajna)
Portuguese:
Bufo-pequeno
Spanish:
Búho chico
Swedish:
Hornuggla
Collective Noun: Parliament (or Stare)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Mikkola, H. 1983 Owls of Europe Poyser, Calton
[598.71 MIK]
Scott, D. 1997 The long-eared owl Hawk and Owl Trust, London
[598.712 SCO]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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