Animalia Life

Asio flammeus
SUBFAMILY
Asioninae
TAXONOMY
Strix flammea Pontoppidan, 1763, Denmark. Ten subspecies are recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Hibou des marais; German: Sumpfohreule; Spanish: Bъho Campestre.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
14.6–15.4 in (37–39 cm). Female, 9.9–17.6 oz (280–500 g). Male, 7.1–15.9 oz (200–450 g). Huge range gives wide differences in size. A medium-sized owl with a large, round head and very small ear tufts that are hard to see. Round, grayish white facial disc, white chin, and white, brown, and buff facial ruff and forehead. The yellow eyes are surrounded by black. Upperparts are brown and buff. Underparts are whitish to pale buff with vertical streaks. Large, buff wing patches on the up- per wings and dark wrist markings on the underwings. Feet and legs are whitish buff.
DISTRIBUTION
Canada and United States; northeast Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, southern Peru, west-central Bolivia, Paraguay, and southeastern Brazil to Tierra del Fuego; Iceland, England, Europe below the tree line through Asia to Russia and China. Winters in India, Southeast Asia, southern China, and parts of Africa.
HABITAT
Marsh lands and grasslands, open areas, tundra, and moorland.
BEHAVIOR
Diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal. Very migratory. These birds are seen throughout the year in the southern part of the breeding range, although they may not be the same birds. Breeding areas are reliant on a good prey base. This owl will winter in groups and roost on the ground or in low trees.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
One of the most aerial hunters, its light wing-loading allows this owl to hunt by quartering the ground in low-level flight seeking prey. Preys on small mammals, including mice, voles, shrews, moles and even young rabbits and hares; also small birds less frequently.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Males display to females with dramatic flights, aerobatics, and clapping of wings. This owl nests on the ground in cover— grasses, heather, reeds; some line the nest with grass and feathers, making this one of the very few owls to attempt any form of nest building. Lays five to 10 eggs. Increased clutch sizes in vole and lemming years. Incubation is 26–29 days. Young leave the nest before they can fly at about 12–18 days and hide in vegetation.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not globally threatened, but probably declining slowly due to drainage of wetlands, human encroachment and disturbance. This owl occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

Other popular Animals