Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Scientific Name: Asio otus

Malay Name: Burung-Hantu Telinga-Panjang Biasa

Chinese Name: 长耳鸮

Range: Widely distributed in North America and Eurasia.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: otus, canariensis, tuftsi, wilsonianus.

Local Subspecies: otus

Size: 35-40 cm

Identification: Similar in appearance to Short-eared Owl, but can be separated by strong streaks on underparts that extend down the belly and are accompanied by ventral barring. In flight, fine barring on wing tips (primaries), lack of white trailing edge, and orange irides.

Similar looking species: Buffy Fish Owl, Short-eared Owl

Habitat: Grasslands, shrublands, open forests, dense vegetation near open habitats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Nocturnal, takes long glides and also hovers while hunting. Has been observed in communal roosts outside of breeding season.

Local Status: Ship-assisted

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Location: One individual at Marina East Drive on 20 Nov 2021, record awaiting assessment by Records Committee.

Featured articles:

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Asio otus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22689507A201150685.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Marks, J. S., Evans, D. L., & Holt, D. W. (2020). Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), version 1.0. In Billerman, S.M. (Eds.). Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.loeowl.01

To top