Long-eared Owl

Irish Name:	Ceann cait
Scientific name:	Asio otus
Bird Family:	Owls

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Conservation status

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Status

Widespread resident throughout Ireland. The owl species most likely to be seen in Ireland.

Identification

Bright yellow eyes and long erectile tufts resembling ears, however only serving a display function. Nocturnal and incredibly well camouflaged, with dark shades of brown and beige in rich tawny plumage . Some potential for confusion with Short-eared Owl but posture more upright in Long-eared Owl. Wing beats silent but abrupt and glides unheard close to hedges or ground.

Voice

Rather silent outside of the breeding season. Gives a rather quiet hooting display. Juveniles beg with a high-pitched squeak reminiscent of a rusty gate.

Diet

Hunts small mammals, frogs and birds. Has been observed taking migrant birds disorientated at lighthouses and other bright lights.

Breeding

Breeds in lowlands throughout Ireland, usually in a stand of conifers.

Wintering

Largely resident, though young birds will wander in search of new territories. During winter, may occasionally gather in communal roosts of between 5 and 30 birds.

Monitored by

BirdTrack and Countryside Bird Survey.

The most common and widespread owl in Ireland, but difficult to observe due to nocturnal habits. Best found by listening for the distinctive calls of adults and young.

Perhaps under-recorded in Winter due to extremely good camouflage. Long-eared Owls don’t call in Winter either which makes them harder to detect.

Blog posts about this bird

Birds of Prey

Keep an Ear out for Owls this summer!

BirdWatch Ireland are seeking records of Long-eared Owl chicks calling at night across the Irish countryside this summer.

On a calm summers evening, as dusk approaches and after dark, you might hear a faint screeching noise somewhere in the distance. This ‘rusty gate’ sound is the sound of hungry young Long-eared Owls begging for food, calling to their parents with a sharp squeaking whistle. Click here to hear what the call of young Long-eared Owls sounds like.

If you're lucky enough to hear them calling this summer, or if you've seen an adult Long-Eared Owl coming and going to a possible nest site, please log your record via the link below – it only takes a minute! They're widespread across Ireland but can be very secretive. However, the chicks tend to give away their location in late summer. The sound is usually audible in the late evening and night time. Long-eared Owls can be nesting in any sort of woodland or hedgerow with suitably mature trees, often in an old nest of a crow or pigeon. You might even be lucky enough to have them nesting in your garden.

Click here to log your record

Fluffy chicks will leap from tree branch to branch before they can properly fly. © John Lusby

These nocturnal hunters are incredibly well camouflaged, with dark shades of brown and beige in rich tawny plumage helping them blend in perfectly when sitting stoically still in a mature tree. Their bright orange or yellow-orange eyes are arguably their most striking feature, and despite their name the long erectile tufts on their head only serve a display function, so they aren’t actually ears! As with other owls and birds of prey, they're vulnerable to changes in habitat that affect their prey base, and the common use of rodenticides to control rats and mice affect Long-eared Owls too.

The tufts on a Long-eared Owls head aren't actually ears, despite the name!

The oldest Long-eared Owl in Ireland or the UK was nearly 13 years old, but most only live around 4 years. They often nest in the same areas year after year, so if you've heard them before then you might well hear them again this summer!

So, if you're lucky enough to hear this 'squeaky gate' sound please log your record via the link below. Because they’re so secretive, they’re hard to monitor accurately, so any information you can provide will help us learn more about this mysterious species. This survey is kindly supported by The Community Foundation for Ireland as part of BirdWatch Ireland’s Birds Connect project. The project focuses on connecting people and birds through citizen science, outreach and training.