The Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

01. hlavna foto

The short-eared owls are volatile, nomadic, medium-sized species of the

owls. Unlike the long-eared owls, they have short, undistinguished ears, which
erect only when they are excited. Their eyes are hemmed with black feathers
and legs are feathered to their fingers.

02. – 02.a (foto biotopu doplnime)

They occupy open and humid places, such as tundra, peat bogs, wet swampy
meadows, wet pastures, heaths and fields and avoid afforested areas.

03.

They hunt in the open country, at dusk but also in the daytime. They use a
flapping-wing flight similar to some predators. Rodents comprise the
predominant component of the food, up to 95% of which are voles. They also
hunt wood mice, rabbits and small birds.

04. môže byť aj orez

The mating runs during January and February, similarly to the long-eared owl. It
starts from January to February. During wedding flights, the male owls seduce
the female by flapping the wings under their abdomens. The male owls defend
their field with nose-dive air raids, even against humans.

05.

Unlike other species of owls, the short-eared owls make their own nests
of dry straws on the ground. The female owls lay from 4 to 9 eggs on the basis
of the availability of food. Both parents take care of their young. Families fall
apart when moving to wintering sites. However, only half of the hatched young
survive. The weaker ones die of hunger or are killed by older siblings.