Long-eared Owl

About the Long-eared Owl

The long-eared owl (Asio otus), also known as the northern long-eared owl or informally as the lesser horned owl or cat owl, is a medium-sized typical owl with an extensive range. The genus name, Asio, is Latin for "horned owl", and the specific epithet, otus, is derived from Greek and refers to a small eared owl. It breeds in Europe and the Palearctic, as well as in North America. This owl prefers semi-open habitats, particularly woodland edge, as they to roost and nest within dense stands of wood but prefer to hunt over open ground. The long-eared owl primarily hunts small rodents, especially voles, but during population cycles of their regular prey, or in arid, insular, or urbanized habitats, it takes diverse prey including birds and insects.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Asio otus

Family

Owls

Order

Strigiformes

Similar species

Other members of the owls family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Balsas Screech-Owl Megascops seductus
• Barred Owl Strix varia
• Bearded Screech-Owl Megascops barbarus
• Black-and-white Owl Strix nigrolineata
• Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus
• Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
• Central American Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium griseiceps
• Cinereous Owl Strix sartorii
• Colima Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium palmarum
• Crested Owl Lophostrix cristata
• Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio
• Elf Owl Micrathene whitneyi