Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Any Upland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Upland Mixed (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Lowland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Lowland Mixed (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   adjacent to:
      (Grass or Sedge Meadow or Fields/Pasture)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The habitat preferences for this owl are as inconclusive as is its breeding range. Habitat usage depends on season, prey availability, geographic region, and activity. Roost sites, particularly in winter, are generally conifers, tangled thickets, and dense shrubbery. Foraging habitats include coniferous forest with scattered openings, but in Michigan are typically large upland and wetland openings. The Long-eared Owl preys primarily on small rodents, particularly meadow voles.

Nesting habitat also varies. In Michigan, nest sites have been recorded in tamarack, white and scotch pine, red maple, and elm, within coniferous and mixed forests, woodlots, and pine plantations. The Long-eared Owl does not build a nest, instead using abandoned bird and squirrel nests. Chosen nests are usually over 6 m above ground. Each of the five nests reported during the Atlas period were in pine stands near extensive openings. In two cases, abandoned American Crow and Green-backed Heron nests were used.

In southern Michigan, Long-eared Owls seem to depend on three habitat requirements: conifer stands or other thick growth, large open areas for foraging, and high vole populations. The planting of pine groves has provided ample nesting sites. Degradation of foraging habitats is partly responsible for its decline. Intensive farming and widespread loss of old fields to development have lowered habitat suitability since the mid 1900s. Long-eared Owls also must contend with direct human disturbance and competition with the ubiquitous Great Horned Owl, and contamination from chemicals.

Habitat: Breeding: Deciduous or coniferous (coniferous preferred) and open or dense woodlands, wooded parks, sometimes in small woodlots. Wooded swamps, evergreen plantations. Wintering: Birds roost deep within groves of evergreens that may be several miles from extensive forest.

Special Habitat Requirements: Dense vegetation for nesting and roosting cover.

Habitat: Woodlands, conifer groves. Favored habitat includes dense trees for nesting and roosting, open country for hunting. Inhabits a wide variety of such settings, including forest with extensive meadows, groves of conifer or deciduous trees in prairie country, streamside groves in desert. Generally avoids unbroken forest.

Diet: Mostly small mammals. Usually feeds heavily on common local rodents. Depending on region, may be mostly voles, deer mice, kangaroo rats, pocket gophers, etc. Also known to eat small birds, shrews, bats, lizards, snakes, other small creatures.

Nest: Site is usually in tree, 4-30 feet above ground, usually at about midlevel in tree; sometimes in giant cactus or on cliff ledge. No nest built; uses abandoned nest built by other birds, such as crows, ravens, magpies, various hawks.