Long-eared Owl at British Wildlife Centre in Surrey, U.K.

Photo by Lee Mathews / Alamy Stock Photo

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

This Long-eared Owl, whose photo recently appeared in The Guardian newspaper, in Britain, seems quite surprised by something, what with those bulging eyes and flattened-back ears.   Long-eared Owls are nocturnal, secretive and rarely seen.   My feeling is they are more often heard than seen.   Wikipedia claims there are lust 6,000 Long-eared Owls in the United States and only 50,000 in the entire world.   John James Audubon illustrated this owl in his Birds of America, published in London, 1827-38.   The original watercolour was purchased from Audubon's destitute widow by The New York History Society where it remains to this day.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder