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The long-eared owl
The long-eared owl
- THAT'S ME
- FACTS
- OBSERVATIONS
- MULTIMEDIA
- ST. MARTINS
- QUIZ
Dear explorer, dear explorers,
we have probably crossed paths before. Perhaps you have already heard my voice, noticed me flying as a dark shadow, or found a feather of mine. To let you learn a little bit more about me, we have put together a lot of interesting and surprising facts about me.
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is the long-eared owl. Enjoy reading.
Header image: Martin Weixelbraun
Picture credits: Martin Weixelbraun
Facts
- Size: 30 - 36 cm
- Wingspan: up to 100 cm
- Weight: up to 220 - 370 g
- Females are always a little larger and heavier than males.
- Nest: Owls do not build nests and very often use the nests of magpies and crows that are no longer in use.
- Eggs: usually 3 - 5, in mice-rich years up to 8 eggs
- Incubation period: 27 - 28 days per egg, young birds are therefore of different ages.
- From 16 - 20 days, the young leave the nest still unable to fly and spend the time on branches near the nest. They are then called "branchlings". After 33 - 35 days, the young birds can fly, and from around 60 days they become independent of their parents.
Appearance
Picture credits: © Martin Weixelbraun
The plumage is yellowish-brown and darkly spotted on the upper side, with a bark-like pattern and white shoulder patches. The belly and chest are slightly paler and feature dark longitudinal stripes. Very prominent "feather ears" on the head. However, these are not used for hearing, but for the owls' facial expressions. The eyes are orange and large. The feet are feathered down to the toes and equipped with sharp claws.
Food and hunting
Long-eared owls inhabit semi-open landscapes and the transition zone between forest and cultivated land. They mostly prey on field mice (up to 90% of their total diet) and need 5 - 6 mice per day. Other prey animals include small birds, insects, earthworms, and rarely also amphibians and reptiles. Owls cannot digest the hair and bones of their prey, but regurgitate these remains several times a day as pellets, known as owl pellets. Long-eared owls are considered crepuscular and nocturnal and are perfect mouse hunters thanks to their excellent hearing and ability to fly silently.
Reproduction
Picture credits: Martin Weixelbraun
Early in the year, males occupy potential breeding sites and adjacent hunting territories. Females are lured by evening calls, and the males perform display flights over the territory. If courtship is successful, the pairs spend a breeding season together.
Observe
Picture credits: Martin Weixelbraun
Long-eared owls are partial migrants. Many birds overwinter locally, others migrate south depending on the climate or come from the north to Central Europe. Long-eared owls form winter roosts where dozens of owls can spend the day together in some places. Trees in wind-sheltered locations such as cemeteries or parks are popular, where they spend the day resting together and set off to hunt at nightfall. At some of these locations, the owls can be observed during the winter months with considerate behavior. Well-known among owl enthusiasts is the northern Serbian town of Kikinda, in whose parks up to 400 owls could be observed.
Interactive content
A video with special content about the long-eared owl
Around St. Martins
Picture credits: © Martin Weixelbraun
As the Seewinkel region is an important habitat for many species of birds of prey in winter, including owls, we have been running safaris on this topic during the winter months for years and the long-eared owls have already won many fans as a result.
