Long-Eared Owl
The long-eared owl (or Asio otus), also known as the Northern long-eared owl, lesser horned owl, or cat owl, is a medium-sized owl found across much of Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of North Africa. It inhabits woodlands, forests and dense thickets, often near open grasslands or meadows where it can hunt small mammals such as voles and mice.
The long-eared owl has tall, upright ear tufts, orange eyes and mottled brown plumage.
Females are typically larger than males, at a height of 27cm to 40cm and a wingspan of 90cm to 100cm and weight of 260g to 435g. Males are 25cm to 37cm tall, have a wingspan of 84cm to 95cm and weigh between 220g and 305g.
Asio otus
Habitat needs
Space is stored as a minimum plus an amount per additional adult; the game's help adds that juveniles don't count. Plan a mixed habitat in the habitat planner.
Terrain
| Terrain | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse Sand | 0% | 5% |
| Rock | 0% | 20% |
| Soil | 20% | 90% |
| Grass | 10% | 80% |
| Waterlogged | 0% | 40% |
Share of the habitat's terrain.
Barriers with resistance grade 2 or higher 14
- 1-Way Glass grade 2 · $1
- Chain Link grade 2 · $1 · climbable
- Corrugated grade 2 · $1
- Rope Netting grade 2 · $2 · climbable
- Glass grade 3 · $2
- Wire Netting grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Wood Logs grade 3 · $2 · climbable
- Acrylic grade 4 · $3
- Steel Mesh grade 4 · $3 · climbable
- Thick Glass grade 4 · $3
- Brick grade 5 · $4
- Concrete grade 5 · $4
- Gabion grade 5 · $4 · climbable
- Electric grade 6 · $0.80
At least 1 m high. No water barrier. Grades are the ones the game's barrier tooltips state.
Enrichment it uses 6
- Cardboard Box Toy · score 100 · $100
- Perch 01 Toy · score 100 · $100
- Perch 02 Toy · score 100 · $100
- Shredding Perch Toy · score 150 · $100
- Rubber Snake Toy · score 150 · $100
- Suspended Perch Toy · score 50 · $100
Enrichment target: toys 100 + 100 per additional adult; feeders 10 + 5 per additional adult.
Food, life and breeding
- Food
- Rodents + Meat Cuts
- Food / drink amount
- 3 / 2.5
- Food cost, grade 1 / 2 / 3
- $264 / $368 / $368
- Feeders
- Food Tray - Large, Food Tray - Small, Skittle Feeder, Bamboo Feeder, Perch Feeder
- Lifespan
- 10–13 yr
- Mature / prime / old / elderly
- 1 yr / 3 yr / 6 yr / 9 yr
- Gestation / between births
- 0 yr / 1 yr
- Litter
- 2–4
- Fertility
- 0.3
- Mating system
- Monogamous
- Breeds in
- Spring
- Nest
- Cup medium
- Dominance
- Age-based hierarchy in communal non-breeding roosts
- Ecosystem roles
- Predators, Aerial Foragers
- Wild population
- 2,200,000 - 3,700,000
- Guests flee if it escapes
- Yes
For most of the breeding season, long-eared owls are territorial and solitary, with pairs viciously defending their nesting areas from other owls. However, outside of the breeding period, they often gather in communal roosts in groups of up to 20 owls. These communal roosts offer protection from predators, shelter from harsh weather and help the owls find good hunting areas nearby.
Overview
- Scientific name
- Asio otus
- Class
- Aves
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Biome
- Taiga, Temperate, Wetlands, Grassland
- Continent
- Asia, Europe, North America, Africa
- Content
- Base game