Species: Asio otus

Long-eared Owl

Species

Birds

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Terrestrial vertebrates: birds

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Aves

Order

Strigiformes

Family

Strigidae

Genus

Asio

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101120

Classification

Other Global Common Names

Buho Cara Café - hibou moyen-duc

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Other Birds

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Strigiformes - Strigidae - Asio - The genetic distance (based on allozyme data) between A. OTUS and A. FLAMMEUS is unusually large for congeneric bird species (Randi et al., 1991); further study of their phylogenetic relationships is warranted.

Ecology and Life History

Migration

true - true - true - Migratory in most of Canada and north-central U.S. At Cape May Point, New Jersey, 90% of fall migration was completed between mid-October and late November (Duffy and Kerlinger 1992). See also Russell et al. (1991) for an account of fall migration at Cape May Point, New Jersey.

Non-migrant

true

Locally Migrant

true

Food Comments

Opportunistic; feeds on available small mammals (usually <50 g) (Marks 1984). Typical primary prey in North America includes MICROTUS, PEROMYSCUS, and PEROGNATHUS; varies with locality (e.g., THOMOMYS in Oregon; Bull et al. 1989). Typically forages in open grassy area, e.g., marsh, old field, but may forage in forest in some areas (e.g., northeastern Oregon, Bull et al. 1989).

Reproduction Comments

Nests mainly mid-March to mid-May in many areas. Clutch size averages 4-5 in North America, highest in north and west. Incubation lasts 25-30 days, normally by female only. Young leave nest at 20-26 days, fly at 30-40 days, independent at about 2 months. Sexually mature in 1 year. High rodent numbers are essential for nesting success.

Ecology Comments

Breeding density generally not more than 1-2 pairs per sq km, often much less. Home ranges in Wyoming riparian habitat varied from 34-106 hectares (mean 51 hectares; Craighead and Craighead 1956). Gregarious in winter.

Length

Weight

279

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

1996-11-27

Global Status Last Changed

1996-11-27

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

FG - 20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles) - FG - BREEDS: southern and eastern British Columbia to northern Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island, south to northwestern Baja California, southern New Mexico, northern Mexico, Arkansas, and Virginia. WINTERS: southern Canada to northern Baja California, central Mexico, and Gulf Coast. Also in Old World.

Global Range Code

Global Range Description

20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101120