Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Scarce in Summer with 2,300 breeding pairs in Britain, mainly in Scotland & numbers vary in the Winter.

Also breeds in mainland Europe, North & South America.

Winters on the coast, also farmland.

Adults have large eyes which are yellow-orange, a big head, a short neck, and broad wings. Its bill is short, strong, hooked and black.

Its plumage is mottled tawny to brown with a barred tail and wings.

The upper breast is significantly streaked.

Its flight is characteristically floppy due to its irregular wingbeats.

The Short-eared Owl may also be described as "moth or bat-like" in flight.

The call is a scratchy bark-like call. Raspy waowk, waowk, waowk or toot-toot-toot-toot-toot sounds are common.