Laurence Alder
- Mar 3, 2021
- 4 min read

Short-eared Owl | Asio Flammeus

Updated: Mar 15, 2021

I couldn't do a Winter Birds collection without including a bird of prey now could I? I cannot tell you how much I am blown away by these magnificent creatures. The Short-eared Owl is no exception, stunning markings, piercing yellow eyes and beautiful browns and golden yellows.

The Winter Bird Collection takes inspiration from birds that call the United Kingdom their home for the winter. At the end of all blog posts there will be a sources section where you can do further reading and look at the sources of where I collected this information.

Don't forget 10% of the profits from the Winter Bird Collection get donated to RSPB. One of Britain's largest conservation charities.

A Snappy Introduction

Scientific Name: Asio Flammeus Average Size: up to 42cm

Average Wingspan: up to 105cm

Status: Amber List

Flammeus? Asio? Expelliarmus!?

Not quite, not quite, although isn't the name incredible? Although this sounds like a spell from the wonderful wizarding world, the scientific name actually means something completely different.

The genus 'Asio' relates to the 'eared-owls', so that's your long eared as well as short eared beauties, where they have little tufts of feathers that almost resemble mammalian ears. Unfortunately it is hard to see the tufts of a Short Eared owl, unless you're up close and personal or the bird is taking a defensive pose.

Flammeus has maybe a more obvious meaning, relating to flames, flaming and the colour of fire. You may be wondering why brown equals flames, but this does not relate to their plumage. The colour is within the eyes, that golden gorgeous yellow is said to glint like fire in when the bird is in flight. Stunning, right?

Distribution, A Little bit of a Cheat

A little bit of a cheat because this bird does actually stay in the most Northern parts of the UK throughout the year, you will especially be able to spot them in Scotland. However, during the winter they do tend to spread themselves out.

I think one of the most fascinating facts about the distribution of the short eared owl is the fact that they can travel from Scandinavia and Russia over seas, so come and spend the winter here. It has been known for people to see the owls flying in from the sea into the coast. Some owls have even been known to stop off on boats on their long journey to the U.K.

Maybe I'm not really cheating then, because that is all a little bit cool isn't it?

This owl can be found throughout the UK within the winter seasons, and one of the very few species of owl that you will be able to see during the day. Hunting like a harrier, you'll be able to see this bird of prey flying over low ground and spending most of its time in open grassland like moors, dunes and bogs.

Plumage Transformation

When static, this owl has the most spectacular plumage. The marbling chocolate browns, golden beige's cascade down the back of the bird, riding on top of a buff-white underside with little streaks of charcoal brown. The markings are complex but completely beautiful to get lost in. This is one of the main reasons why I chose this bird as an inspiration.

The plumage completely transforms when this magnificent creature takes flight, suddenly an even more gorgeous pattern emerges (if that is even possible), showcasing rows of pale spots along rows of black and brown, contrasting with the yellow/orange outer wings. Against the light and the sun it looks like hand crafted stained glass window.

The most mesmerising part, in my opinion, is the eyes. Those gorgeously golden yellow eyes, perfectly piercing into the wild. The blackish ring around the outside makes the cold harsh yellow stand out more, creating a stark contrast to the markings across their body.

I have tried to feature this in one of my paper weavings, and I must say the yellow works perfectly with the brown plumage of this bird.

Twit-Twoo?

Hmmm not quite, I weirdly find the call of the short eared owl a little bit haunting to be honest. It's a slightly drawn out shrill, and you can have a little listen to it here.

A Decline in Breeding Pairs

You'll often find the Short-eared owl hunting for food during dawn or dusk, hovering above the ground or perched, ready to launch at any second to capture its prey. They will hover for a long period of time before pouncing, often going for small mammals or other small birds.

The Short-eared owl is unique, as they are usually found nesting on the ground in moorlands, rather than in a nest, in a tree like most owls. The best place for them is an open space with varying heights of grass and thick heather moors.

Unfortunately it is thought that the numbers of breeding pairs within the U.K. is declining. In some cases we are not even sure how many breeding pairs there are in the U.K. The reason as to why, is something that is still under investigation, with one of the reasons being the availability of prey in the areas they choose to stay.

Charities such as BTO & RSPB are working to get to the bottom of this and to find out ways that we can help save the species. BTO have been studying the birds migration patterns and habitat use, often done by volunteers, and have a really compelling article about what they are doing to help. You can read about this further here.

Donate

Short-eared owls are a breed that is protected by The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981 and is on the Amber list for concern.

With each sale made within the Winter Bird Collection 10% of profits are donated to the RSPB. They are one of the largest conservation charities within the UK. To find out more about their work or to donate to the charity please visit their website.