The Short-eared Owl is one of the few owls active in daylight, often hunting in late afternoon over open grasslands and marshes with buoyant, moth-like flight. Its tiny ear tufts are usually invisible. It breeds on tundra, prairies, and marshes across the Northern Hemisphere, and populations irrupt southward in winter when vole populations crash in the north.
Best time to see a Short-eared Owl
The best time to see a Short-eared Owl is November–February, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,096 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Short-eared Owl? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Short-eared Owl sightings near you
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