Breeding throughout Canada and across the northern U.S., short-eared owls are common winter visitors in the Heartland. These mid-sized owls favor grasslands, abandoned farm fields and open marsh, where they hunt for mice and voles. Staying out of the woods and close to the ground, they usually roost on fence posts, low structures or muskrat mounds.
Up close, the short-eared owl is identified by his golden-brown, heavily streaked plumage, his long wings with black wrist marks and his yellow eyes, each set in a patch of black; his small ear tufts are often not evident. Usually viewed from a distance, this open country owl is recognized by his halting flight and tendency to hover; he is often mistaken for a female northern harrier, which has similar plumage, favors the same habitat and has a similar hunting style.
One of the few owls active during the day, short-ears are best observed in the early morning and late afternoon, when they patrol for mice. Somewhat gregarious during the winter months, these raptors often gather in areas where prey is abundant. By April, they will return to their breeding grounds, where, true to their open-country lifestyle, they will nest on the ground.
