Facts about Short-eared Owl

1. 08

   In open grasslands, short-eared owls hunt almost exclusively during daylight hours, unlike most owl species that are strictly nocturnal, making them the most diurnal hunters in their family.

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2. 07

   Nesting pairs of short-eared owls can raise 5 to 14 chicks per season, the largest clutch size among most owl species, adapted to exploit periodic vole population booms.

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3. 06

   Male short-eared owls perform dramatic sky-dancing displays during spring courtship, climbing to 300 feet then dive-bombing with wing claps to attract females.

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4. 05

   Across North America and Eurasia, short-eared owls breed further north than any other owl species, with populations nesting above the Arctic Circle in tundra regions.

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5. 04

   Short-eared owls exhibit brown and white plumage with distinctive dark patches on their wing undersides, making them highly visible hunters that rely on speed and agility rather than camouflage during daylight foraging.

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6. 03

   A short-eared owl's facial disc can rotate up to 270 degrees, allowing it to locate prey sounds with precision while its body remains motionless during hunting.

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7. 02

   During winter months across northern regions, short-eared owls migrate south in irruptive events when vole populations crash, sometimes appearing in unusual locations thousands of miles from breeding grounds.

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8. 01

   Hovering up to 50 feet above grassland, short-eared owls can detect voles moving beneath snow or vegetation using acute hearing alone.

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