Short-eared Owls are about the size of a crow.  They are light tan with wide brown streaks on their upper-parts and thinner well-defined vertical streaks on their breast and belly.  There are black spots on the undersides of their wings near the wrists.  Small ear tuffs and black bands frame their yellow eyes.

The exact size of the Canadian population is unknown but changes in local populations suggest the Short-eared Owl population is decreasing at a rate of 1.8% a year.  It’s estimated that the Canadian population declined by 43% between 1966 and 1989. The size of the NWT population is unknown but is assumed to be experiencing a similar decrease.

Distribution

Short-eared Owls are found almost worldwide.  Historically, they were found in all of Canada’s unforested regions except for the High Arctic Islands. They have a seasonal distribution. In summer, Short-eared Owls are found on the Arctic and alpine tundra from Alaska to Hudson Bay, along the northern coastline from Manitoba to Labrador, and down the coastline of the Maritimes.  Observations of Short-eared Owls near Yellowknife suggests that they also breed in some areas of the taiga and boreal forest as well as the tundra.  In southern Canada, they are found across the prairies and in south central British Columbia.  Short-eared Owls migrate to the southern portions of their range in the winter.

NOTE: Click on map for full view. Distributions are approximate and not intended for legal use. (JPG = 2020 KB)

Habitat

Short-eared Owls hunt in open country and require large ranges.  In summer, they can be found in open grasslands, prairies, and tundra.  Short-eared Owls are choosy about their summer roost sites and are often found in long grass similar in colour to their own feathers.  They roost and hunt in abandoned pastures, fields, airports, hay meadows, and marshes during the winter.  Normally solitary birds, during winter the owls congregate together, which can cause problems at airports.

Short-eared Owls nest on the ground.  They are the only owls that build their own nests.  Breeding begins in their first year.  The breeding season is directly tied to the presence of food.  Breeding can begin as early as April in good years or as late as August in famine years.  Usually six eggs are laid but as many as 16 eggs have been found in one nest.  Females incubate the eggs for 24-28 days.  Chicks fledge in about the same amount of time.  Two weeks after fledging, the chicks begin to fly.  Short-eared Owls can live up to 13 years in the wild.  They prey mainly on small rodents but also eat small birds.

Loss of habitat is a key factor in the decline of the Short-eared Owl.  Wet meadows and prairies are more productive habitats for rodents than dry areas. Many of the swamps and marshes that provided irrigation for moist habitats were drained when the prairies were converted to agricultural land. This loss of habitat reduced the Short-eared Owl’s food supply, resulting in greater competition, which drives the owl’s population down.  Human activities such as hunting and farming can also cause mortality in the ground-dwelling chicks.

In 1994, COSEWIC designated the Short-eared Owl as Vulnerable because of long-term population decline.  Hunting Short-eared Owls is prohibited in the NWT.

The Short-eared Owl’s habitat in the NWT is relatively secure.   Little can be done to help the Short-eared Owl recover in southern Canada and the US, other than protecting remaining wetlands.

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       Site last updated Tuesday, November 04, 2008