Birds of Ireland: Short-eared owl

Short-eared owls have stiff wingbeats and glide. They are often seen hunting in broad daylight and are regularly seen on the ground

Short-eared owls are about 36-40cm long with a wing span of 98-104cm

Short-eared Owl | Ulchabhán réisc | Asio flammeus

A short-eared owl is about 36-40 centimetres long with a wing span of 98-104 centimetres. 

They are a non-breeding species here found on coasts and near estuaries in autumn, winter and spring.

A short-eared owl is slightly smaller than a rook and both sexes appear similar. 

Short-eared owls of all ages have a yellow iris and tiny 'ear' tufts. Their bodies are coarsely mottled light and dark brown. 

In flight, seen from below, a short-eared owl's pale wings with black wing tips and a mark at their 'elbow' are visible, as is the streaking on their neck and breast only. 

Short-eared owl

Juveniles just out of the nest are light and dark grey, downy with yellow irises.

In flight you can see the white trailing edges to their wings, their black wing tips and their faintly streaked pale belly. They have stiff wingbeats and glide.

They are often seen hunting in broad daylight and are regularly seen on the ground. 

Tip of the week

Six species of the owl family have occurred in Ireland but only two — the barn owl and the long-eared owl — regularly breed here. They usually hunt at night but will also hunt in daylight hours, especially at dawn and dusk during the breeding season or when food is scarce. 

The short-eared owl is a winter visitor that usually hunts by day, and the other species, including the snowy owl, are very rare. 

In recent years there has been a dramatic decline in breeding barn owls. The cause of the decline is not clearly understood and is thought to be a combination of factors such as habitat loss, secondary poisoning, climate change etc. 

Featured in Birds of Ireland: A field guide by Jim Wilson, with photographs by Mark Carmody

• Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, broadcaster, tour leader, and former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of birds in Ireland for more than 45 years, contributing to several major surveys and international projects.
• Mark Carmody is an award-winning wildlife photographer, has a PhD in biochemistry and works as a European patent attorney.