Identification

33-40cm. The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl. Wings very long, narrow and rather pointed, head comparatively small, rounded. Ear-tufts minute and rarely seen. Plumage pale yellow-brown and buff-white, heavily streaked. In certain lights, e.g. dusk or overcast weather, can look surprisingly whitish. Palish face with distinct black patches around yellow eyes, expression ‘mean’. Flight buoyant and wavering, wingbeats rowing in slow-motion fashion, wings rigid-looking, glides freely. Often perches on ground. In flight, distinguished from similar Long-eared Owl by white trailing edge to ‘arm’; wing-tip almost solidly black with only one bold bar inside tip; contrast between streaked breast and largely unstreaked belly; tail coarsely barred; tertials contrastingly darker below; wings proportionately somewhat longer and narrower. Sexes similar, male on average paler below and on face, and less heavily streaked.

Description

The Short-eared Owl breeds in fluctuating number in sedge marshes, marshy meadows and grasslands, occasionally in wheat or alfalfa fields on lowlands (around Lake Fertő, Hanság, Sárrét in Transdanubia, Ócsa, Nagykunság, Hortobágy, Bihar Plain, Jászság). During migration and overwintering a low number of individuals can be observed in lowlands throughout the country. Winter visitor in varying numbers, seen primarily near sedge bogs and marshy meadows with sedge beds or tussocks, at times in flocks. Some individuals occasionally join Long-eared Owl roosting on evergreen trees.