Bird · GBIF taxon 2497295

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Also known as Bog Owl, Prairie Owl

Short-eared owls patrol open meadows and coastal marshes with a buoyant, erratic, moth-like flight that distinguishes them from almost any other raptor. Unlike most owls, they hunt frequently in broad daylight and during dusky twilights, coursing low over grasses on stiff wingbeats to listen for the rustling of small rodents. Females construct simple scrape nests directly on the ground hidden beneath dense vegetation, producing clutches whose size shifts dramatically in response to boom-and-bust vole cycles.

CrepuscularGrassland HunterGround Nester

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Licensed reference(c) Derek Spencer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

—observations

—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & prey

Meadow Vole
Deer Mouse
Pocket Gopher

Predators

Red Fox
Peregrine Falcon
Great Horned Owl

ThreatsHabitat loss from grassland conversion, agricultural intensification, and rodenticide poisoning

HabitatsOpen grasslands, prairies, coastal marshes, tundra, and agricultural fields

Life span10–12 years in the wild

Classification

FamilyStrigidae
SpeciesAsio flammeus

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Look for a tawny, streaked owl with piercing yellow eyes ringed in black, perched on fence posts or low hummocks.
Support conservation: Maintain a respectful perimeter and never walk off trail through tall grass during the spring nesting season.

Responsible observation

Observation Timing: Scan open pastures and coastal marshlands around dawn and dusk when hunting flights peak.
Flight Silhouette: Look for a floppy, irregular wingbeat pattern that resembles a giant butterfly or moth.
Nesting Awareness: Stay on marked trails, as nests are positioned directly on the ground among tall grasses.

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