Short Eared Owl

Asio flammeus

What They Look Like

At 15 inches tall this is considered to be a medium sized owl.  It has dark patches around its eyes that give the appearance that it is wearing sunglasses.  The chest is boldly streaked, the belly is light, and it has short, rarely seen ear tufts. 

Where They Live

In Michigan this owl is very rare.  It prefers large open areas such as marshes, grasslands, pastures, and peat lands.  The nest is usually placed on the ground in a clump of vegetation or at the base of a low shrub and they require a high rodent population.                                      

What They Eat

Voles make up the majority of the Short Eared Owl’s diet, but they will sometimes eat song and game birds.  They will also hunt both day and night.

Things to Know

The listing of this owl is Endangered.  The decline in numbers is probably due to the loss of large native grasslands, although it was probably never a common breeder in Michigan. 

Why We Have One

We got our Short Eared Owl in June of 2003.  It has an abnormal left elbow and cannot fly, so it cannot be returned to the wild.