Long-Eared Owl

Long-Eared Owl

 

(Asio otus), a bird of the order Strigi-formes. The long-eared owl measures approximately 36 cm in length. The head has earlike tufts of feathers. The plumage is reddish brown; the underparts are lighter. The feathers have dark streaks and crossbars. The long-eared owl is distributed in the forest zone of Europe and Asia. Long-eared owls that live in the more northern regions migrate south in winter. The bird nests in trees, in the abandoned nests of birds or squirrels. The clutch contains four or five white eggs, which are incubated by the female for approximately four weeks. The long-eared owl feeds primarily on mouselike rodents; the diet also includes other birds as well as insects. The long-eared owl is beneficial to man.