About
Short-eared owls mainly hunt during the daytime, flying low over moorland, grassland and saltmarshes where they feed on field voles and small birds. About the same size as the barn owl, but with long wings, the short-eared owl breeds in North England and Scotland, but can be seen more widely in winter. They nest on the ground in scraped-out hollows lined with grass and downy feathers.
How to identify
The short-eared owl is mottled yellowy-brown above, paler underneath and has dark circles around its yellow eyes. Short 'ear tufts' provide its common name. The similar long-eared owl is darker with orange-red eyes and long ear tufts and is usually found near woodland.
Did you know?
Some short-eared owls migrate here from Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland for the winter and can occasionally be seen flying in off the sea.