Scientific Name: Asio flammeus
Malay Name: Burung-Hantu Telinga-Pendek Biasa
Chinese Name: 短耳鸮
Range: Found throughout the Holarctic with some northern populations winter south to Central America, northern Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: flammeus, cubensis, domingensis, portoricensis, bogotensis, galapagoensis, pallidicaudus, suinda, sanfordi, sandwichensis, ponapensis.
Local Subspecies: flammeus
Size: 37-39 cm
Identification: In Singapore, adult may be confused with Buffy Fish Owl but has pale greyish-white facial disc with conspicuous white eyebrows, dark circles around yellow eyes creating a "black-eye" effect, broader and denser breast streaks and no obvious ear-tuffs. This species can be distinguished from the Long-eared Owl by having yellow iris instead of orange, white trailing edge on the wings and black primary tips in flight.
Similar looking species: Buffy Fish Owl, Long-eared Owl
Habitat: Grassland, marshes and open areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Only flies in daylight.
Local Status: Vagrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Short-eared Owl)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Asio flammeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22689531A202226582.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Short-eared Owl. Retrieved on June 4, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/short-eared-owl.