Short-eared Owl

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: Very rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

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Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Short-eared Owl at Changi Cove. Photo Credit: Eric Tan

Short-eared Owl at Changi Cove. Photo Credit: Eric Tan

Short-eared Owl at Changi Cove. Photo Credit: Eric Tan