Long Eared Owls are one of our more elusive owl species in the South West of England – and are remarkably well camouflaged into thin air!
These owls have long thin wings, enabling them to fly slowly over long grass in search of small mammal prey.
They are often semi-migratory, travelling in search of the best location to rear chicks and find enough food over the winter, and have even been known to travel across large bodies of water!
Here are our top Long Eared Owl facts!
- They are the thinnest species of owl in the world!
- They are a tufted species of owl, one of 43% of over 240 species across the globe!
- They have been known to roost in groups of over 20 owls – finding a convenient place to stay overnight
- Climate and land use change are two of the main reasons that have contributed to the species local decline in the south west UK
- They can live over 30 years!
- They have a large wingspan, of up to 37 inches
- It is believed that there are over 1,800 breeding pairs in the UK
- The male and females are distinctly different in size, but also mating calls. The females are distinctively larger!
You can learn more about Long Eared Owls and our native owl species in the UK during our flying displays – restarting on the 2nd of March 2025.
Finn joined The Bird of Prey Project team in 2019, he is a male Long Eared Owl famous for his zippy flying and brilliant vocalisation!
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