Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl [Asio otus] is a medium sized bird with large ear tufts, these tufts are not actually ears but feathers. It is a brown colour with darker brown streaks, and deep orange eyes.
Lorcan Scott DuchasLong-eared Owl
Lorcan Scott Duchas
Lorcan Scott Duchas
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl [Asio otus] is a medium sized bird with large ear tufts, these tufts are not actually ears but feathers. It is a brown colour with darker brown streaks, and deep orange eyes.
Lorcan Scott DuchasCeann cáit
The long-eared owl is the most common owl found in Ireland. It makes its roost near woods and grasslands where it can easily hunt for mice, rats and other mammals. Usually, it makes the roost in the old stick nests of crows or magpies, over even in a squirrels' drey!
Can you guess how they get their name?
They get their name from their long ear tufts, which makes them look a little bit like a cat! When the owl is frightened or curious about something, its ears prick up, but when it is relaxed or flying they lie flat on its head.
The long-eared owl looks different from the barn owl. It has firey orange eyes and mottled brown feathers, to keep it well camoflauged.
Did you know?
Long-eared owls sometimes gather together to roost for the winter. Once in Germany, there were fifty owls gathered together!