The Owl Pages

The Species: (page 2 of 2) - page 1

Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) - This owl hunts in open areas, but is rarely seen. In scientific tests, the Long-eared Owl is known to be able to catch mice in total darkness. Long-eared Owls nest in dense vegetation, adjacent to open grassland, shrubland, or open forest. They eat small mammals and birds, hunting almost exclusively at night. They fly low over the ground and locate their prey by ear. The calls of Long-eared Owls can be heard for a distance of 1 km. The Long-eared Owl often swallows its prey whole after biting them on the back of the skull. They use stick nests abandoned by crows and hawks, or (very rarely) use tree cavities.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - An owl of open grasslands, calling with a scratchy, barking sound. Short-eared Owls can be found in prairie habitats, meadows, marshes, and open woodlots eating small mammals and birds. They hunt day and night, mainly at dawn and dusk. It demonstrates the same predatory behaviour as the Long-eared Owl above. Its nest is a scrape on the ground. The Short-eared Owl is often seen in combination with Northern Harriers which shares the same habitat preference. This is a species at risk, designated as 'Special Concern' by COSEWIC and COSSARO.

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) - Found in nearly all forest types, but hang out in small, dense conifers in winter. The Saw-whets food of choice is deer mice, but also takes small birds and large insects. The Saw-whet owl is a strictly nocturnal bird that hunts from low perches and nests in tree cavities (in old woodpecker holes) and nest boxes.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) - A large owl that requires large tracts of extensive woodland. The Barred Owl is preyed upon a great deal by the Great Horned Owl. This bird prefers large blocks of forest from swampy and riparian areas to uplands. Barred Owls eat small mammals, rabbits, birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. They are particularly fond of crayfish and owls that eat a lot of crayfish have pink belly feathers. This owl wades in the water to catch crayfish. The Barred Owl nests in cavity and stick nests or even utilizes nest boxes. It's call is a bellowing "Who-cooks-for-you!"

Sound files are Long-eared Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl - click on the pictures of the Short-eared Owl (top-right) and Barred Owl (lower-right) for their calls.