Short-eared owl flying by Ronald Kromkamp

About "Short-eared owl flying"

by Ronald Kromkamp

About the artwork

Owls of the genus Asio have feathers on the head similar to the ears in mammals. In this species, the ear tufts are usually inconspicuous. The back is dark with numerous sallow white spots. As the belly and underside are also sallow white, the bird makes a light impression, especially in flight. The large head contains a distinctive, round face veil, bright yellow eyes and two short ear tufts. The short-eared owl is about 38 cm tall and weighs 200 to 500 g.The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread species of owl in the true owl (Strigidae) family. It is a large owl with long wings, piercing eyes and orange markings on its hand pens. The short-eared owl is mainly seen in open fields and grasslands, where it searches for small rodents such as ground mice. The short-eared owl spends a lot of time flying and, unlike other owls, also hunts during the day.

The short-eared owl has a wide range and can be found almost anywhere in the world. Phylogenetic analyses show that the species can be divided into seven subspecies. Short-eared owls are one of the few species of true owls that have also been able to colonise islands far from the coast. For example, it is the only owl species in Hawaii. Short-eared owls usually lead a wandering, little-localised existence. The more northern populations are migratory birds with migration distances of several thousand kilometres.