How to Find and Photograph Long-eared Owls

Where to Find Long-eared Owls

Finding Long-eared Owls is often more about strategy and patience than about covering large distances. In winter, your best bet is to seek out communal roosts. Search dense conifers, shelterbelts, windbreaks, or tightly branched thickets adjacent to open fields or meadows. Walk slowly and quietly along the downwind side of these groves, scanning carefully into the foliage for tall, slim shapes with streaked fronts and dark ear tufts.

Sometimes the first clue is indirect: concentrations of owl pellets on the ground, whitewash on branches, or alarmed behavior from small birds. In some cases, just one owl may be present; in others, multiple birds may roost within the same tree or cluster of trees, spaced a few meters apart.

During the breeding season, listening at night may reveal low, repeated hoots from males advertising territories. Choose evenings with minimal wind and background noise, and stand at the edge of suitable woodland–field mosaics. Even then, Long-eared Owls can be frustratingly quiet and cryptic, so repeated visits and careful attention are essential.

Because they are sensitive to disturbance, it is important to minimize stress when searching for them. Avoid repeated flushing of roosting birds, and never push close to suspected nests. The goal should be to observe without disrupting their rest or breeding attempts.

How to Photograph Long-eared Owls

Long-eared Owls can be spectacular photographic subjects when found, but ethical considerations must come first. Roosting and nesting birds are vulnerable to disturbance; repeated flushing can cause undue stress, energy loss, and even abandonment of sites. With that in mind, photography should always be done at a respectful distance and with minimal impact.

A telephoto lens in the 400–800 mm (full-frame equivalent) range is ideal, allowing you to frame the bird without approaching closely. Roosting owls are often partly obscured by branches and needles; careful positioning can help you find a small window through the foliage where the face and upper body are visible. Move slowly and quietly, making small adjustments rather than large, abrupt shifts.

Light can be challenging in dense roosting cover. Overcast days often provide soft, even illumination that reduces harsh shadows and highlights. In brighter sun, try to position yourself so that the owl’s face is in open, diffused light rather than dappled patches. The orange eyes and warm facial disk can be especially striking with a gentle catchlight, so angle yourself to catch even a small reflection in the eyes without forcing a closer approach.

Compositional choices matter. Rather than trying for a full-body shot in heavy clutter, consider tighter frames that emphasize the owl’s face, eyes, and ear tufts, letting the surrounding needles and branches act as a natural frame. Vertical compositions often suit their tall, slender posture, while horizontal frames can work well when including context—such as multiple owls in a communal roost.

Photographing Long-eared Owls in flight is more challenging and should never involve flushing birds on purpose. Occasionally, an owl will depart at dusk on its own; positioning yourself at a distance where its flight path is predictable—such as from roosting trees toward hunting fields—can provide opportunities for natural flight shots. In low light, use higher ISO and fast shutter speeds, and accept some motion blur as part of the mood.

Avoid using flash on roosting owls, especially repeatedly, as it can be disorienting and stressful. Instead, work with existing light and your camera’s low-light capabilities. If the bird shows signs of discomfort—repeatedly staring at you, stretching taller, shifting position frequently, or leaving the roost entirely—back away and let it settle.

When approached with patience and respect, Long-eared Owls offer some of the most rewarding images in an owl photographer’s portfolio: bright orange eyes peering through dark conifer needles, tall silhouettes blending perfectly with bark, and, on rare occasions, graceful silhouettes gliding over open fields under the fading light of evening.

Identification

General Appearance

The Long-eared Owl is a slim, upright owl with a relatively small head compared to large species like Great Horned Owl, but elongated in outline by its prominent ear tufts. At rest, it appears tall and narrow, often with its body stretched vertically, wings held close, and tufted “ears” raised straight up. This classic posture helps it resemble a broken branch or strip of bark on the trunk behind it.

Plumage is mottled and streaked in shades of brown, buff, gray, and black. The facial disk is oval and fairly narrow, often appearing warm buff or orangish, bordered by darker feathers. The eye color is striking: bright orange to deep yellow-orange, set within the facial disk and accentuated by dark eye surrounds. The ear tufts arise from the top of the head, slightly off-center, and can be raised or flattened depending on the bird’s mood and alertness. These are not ears at all but feather structures used in camouflage and communication.

The chest and belly are pale buff to off-white with bold vertical streaks and finer crossbars of dark brown. The upperparts—back, wings, and tail—are more heavily mottled and cryptic, with intricate patterns that break up the bird’s outline when roosting against bark or in conifers. The wings are long and relatively narrow for an owl, and in flight the bird looks slim and buoyant, with a graceful, somewhat buoy-like glide punctuated by soft, elastic wingbeats.

In the hand, Long-eared Owls are light for their size, reflecting a build adapted for quick, maneuverable flight over open ground. Their long wings and relatively light body distinguish them from more heavily built forest owls that rely on short, powerful bursts of flight.

Key Field Marks

• Medium-sized, slender owl with a tall, narrow profile when perched
• Prominent, upright ear tufts set close together near the center of the head
• Narrow, oval facial disk with warm buff or orangish tones and bright orange eyes
• Underparts pale buff to whitish with strong vertical dark streaking
• Upperparts mottled brown, gray, and black, providing excellent camouflage
• Long, relatively narrow wings and buoyant, moth-like flight low over fields at night
• Typically roosts in dense conifers or thick cover, often near open hunting areas

Measurements

Long-eared Owls are modest in size—larger than a screech-owl but smaller and slimmer than a Great Horned Owl. Typical measurements are:

• Length: about 31–40 cm (12–16 in)
• Wingspan: roughly 86–100 cm (34–39 in)
• Weight: generally 200–435 g (7–15 oz), with females averaging heavier and larger than males

The combination of relatively long wings and low body mass contributes to their buoyant, silent flight.

Plumages

Adult Long-eared Owls show an overall pattern consistent across seasons: cryptic brown, buff, gray, and black mottling above and streaked underparts below. The facial disk ranges from pale buff to rich orange, with darker borders and a dark “frame” accenting the eyes. The ear tufts are dark, often appearing nearly black at the tips, and stand out clearly when raised.

The breast and belly base color is pale—off-white to buff—overlaid with strong, elongated dark streaks and finer crossbars. These streaks run vertically, giving the front of the bird a striped appearance that helps break up its outline. The flanks and lower belly can be more heavily washed with warm buff or brown.

The back and wings are intricately mottled with darker and lighter patches, with subtle patterning that resembles bark and conifer needles. The tail is barred with alternating pale and dark bands. In flight, the underwing shows pale ground color with mottling and darker wrist areas, but the overall impression remains muted and subtle.

Juvenile birds resemble adults but often show less crisp patterning and somewhat more uniform buffy tones on the underparts, with less distinct streaking at first. As they molt into their first adult plumage, contrast and definition increase. Sexes are similar in plumage; differences are mainly in size and sometimes in the intensity of coloration, with females generally slightly larger and sometimes more richly colored.

Seasonal changes are minor. Since the plumage is already well suited to camouflage across seasons, molt mainly refreshes worn feathers rather than dramatically changing appearance. Feather wear may soften the edges of patterns, but Long-eared Owls remain strongly patterned and cryptic throughout the year.

Similar Species

• Great Horned Owl
  • Larger and much bulkier, with a heavier body, broader head, and more massive talons.
  • Facial disk is rounder and paler, and the ear tufts are wider-set and thicker, giving a more “horned” look.
  • Eyes are yellow rather than bright orange, and the overall plumage appears more heavily mottled and less vertically streaked on the underparts.
• Short-eared Owl
  • Usually lacks obvious ear tufts; any tufts are very short and seldom visible.
  • Often hunts in open areas by day as well as at dusk, with a rounder head and more noticeable dark “wrist” patches on the wings.
  • Facial disk is paler, and the underparts typically show more blotching than strong vertical streaking.
• Eastern or Western Screech-Owl
  • Much smaller, with a compact, stocky body and shorter wings.
  • Facial disk is more circular, and the bird often shows distinct color morphs (gray or rufous) rather than the strongly streaked, buffy underparts of Long-eared.
  • Habitat use overlaps somewhat, but screech-owls are more tied to smaller woodlots and urban trees, and their calls are trills or whinnies rather than low hoots.
• Barn Owl
  • Very different facial disk: heart-shaped and pale, with dark eyes rather than orange.
  • Underparts are much paler and often un-streaked or only lightly spotted; upperparts are more golden or gray.
  • Flight is also buoyant, but overall shape and ghostly pale coloration are distinctive.

Vocalizations

The primary territorial call of the male Long-eared Owl is a series of low, resonant hoots, often described as a single, soft “hoo” repeated at regular intervals. These hoots can be remarkably quiet for such a long-reaching signal and may be difficult for human ears to detect at a distance, especially in windy or noisy conditions. When conditions are right, however, they carry along woodland edges and across open fields, marking the presence of a nesting male.

Females have their own calls, often higher and more hoarse, including drawn-out, rasping cries used in pair communication and in the vicinity of nests. Both sexes produce various grunts, squeals, and squeaks during courtship and close interactions.

Young Long-eared Owls are quite vocal at the nest and soon after fledging. They give begging calls that are whiny, catlike, or squeaky, especially at night when parents arrive with food. These calls can be surprisingly loud and are sometimes the first clue that a family group is present in dense foliage.

Alarm and agitation calls include sharp barks, hisses, and clicking or snapping sounds, especially when adults are defending nests or when birds are disturbed at roosts. When flushed from a day roost, Long-eared Owls may fly silently away without calling, or they may give low grunts or squeals if the disturbance is prolonged or close.

Distribution

Breeding Range

Long-eared Owls breed across a broad portion of the temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere. In North America, they nest from parts of southern Canada and Alaska south through the northern and western United States, and more locally in suitable habitats in the interior West, Great Plains, and parts of the Northeast and Midwest. They tend to be patchily distributed, reflecting the availability of both dense roosting and nesting cover and nearby open hunting grounds.

Their breeding presence is often associated with conifer groves, shelterbelts, or mixed woodlands adjacent to meadows, shrublands, marsh edges, or agricultural fields rich in small mammals. Because they are secretive and nocturnal, their breeding distribution is likely under-recorded in many regions.

Non-breeding / Winter Range

In winter, Long-eared Owls remain resident in many parts of their breeding range but also move into more southerly regions. Their winter range extends through much of the continental United States where suitable habitat exists, including plains, deserts fringed by groves, and agricultural regions with shelterbelts and hedgerows.

One of the most notable winter behaviors is the formation of communal roosts. In winter months, multiple Long-eared Owls may gather in small stands of conifers, dense hedges, or shelterbelts, sometimes roosting in close proximity. These roosts can be stable through the season as long as food and cover remain adequate.

Migration

Long-eared Owls are considered partial migrants. Some individuals remain in the same general area year-round, especially in regions with relatively mild winters and stable prey populations. Others, particularly those breeding at more northern latitudes or higher elevations, move south or downslope in autumn.

Migration is mostly nocturnal and not conspicuous, with birds moving individually rather than in flocks. Their movements are strongly influenced by prey availability; in years when small mammal populations crash, more owls may move or disperse more widely in search of adequate food. Conversely, in years of abundant prey, many may remain near breeding territories throughout the winter.

Habitat

Long-eared Owls require a combination of dense cover for roosting and nesting and open or semi-open areas for hunting. Typical breeding habitats include:

• Mixed or conifer woodlands adjacent to fields, meadows, or shrublands
• Shelterbelts and hedgerows near agricultural fields
• Riparian woodlands with nearby open floodplains or wetlands
• Young or open forests bordering grasslands or clearings

They often choose roost sites in dense conifers, including spruce, fir, pine, and cedar, or in tightly branched deciduous trees with dense tangles of twigs and foliage. Roost trees are often located close to edges or openings, allowing easy access to hunting grounds at night.

In winter, they show similar preferences. Communal roosts typically occur in small groves of dense trees near open fields, wetlands, or prairies with high vole or mouse populations. These roosts can be in natural stands or in planted windbreaks, shelterbelts, and hedges in agricultural landscapes.

They generally avoid deep, continuous forest interiors without open hunting areas, as well as heavily built-up urban environments lacking suitable cover and prey.

Behavior

General

By temperament, Long-eared Owls are secretive and wary. During the day, they remain motionless in dense foliage or against tree trunks, using their cryptic plumage to avoid detection. When they sense a potential threat, they may tighten their posture further—stretching upright, narrowing their body, and raising their ear tufts to appear taller and slimmer. If closely approached, they may eventually flush silently, flying low into another dense roosting spot.

At night, they become active hunters. Flight is silent, buoyant, and agile, with long glides and quick changes in direction. They often hunt low over fields or along the margins of hedges and grasslands, listening and watching for movement below.

Socially, Long-eared Owls are more communal in winter than many other owl species. Communal roosts can bring together multiple birds, sometimes of mixed ages, in a single stand. Within these roosts, individuals may maintain small personal spacing but generally tolerate one another as long as food remains plentiful.

Breeding

Breeding begins in late winter to early spring, depending on latitude and local conditions. Males claim territories that encompass suitable roosting trees and adjacent hunting areas, and they advertise with their soft hooting calls and display flights. Courtship flights may include buoyant, looping paths above the treetops, with wing claps or exaggerated wingbeats, though these displays are often subtle and easily missed in the dark.

Pair bonds are formed or renewed as males and females interact at favored roosts and nest sites. The male may bring food to the female, offering prey as part of courtship feeding. Both sexes call during close interactions, with the male’s hoots and the female’s harsher calls forming a duet-like communication.

Long-eared Owls do not usually build their own nests from scratch. Instead, they rely heavily on the abandoned stick nests of other birds, particularly corvids such as crows and magpies, or larger hawks. These existing nests, located in trees, shrubs, or occasionally dense hedges, provide a ready-made platform that the owls may lightly modify or line.

Nesting

Nests are typically placed in trees or tall shrubs, often a few to several meters above the ground. The owls select a former nest that offers a good vantage point, cover from above, and an unobstructed approach route. They may add some downy feathers, bark strips, or bits of vegetation but rarely construct elaborate structures.

The female lays a clutch of usually 4–6 white, rounded eggs. She does most of the incubation, which lasts roughly four weeks. During this period, the male is primarily responsible for hunting and delivering prey to the female, often calling softly when he arrives so she can move from the nest rim to receive the food.

Once the eggs hatch, nestlings are covered in white down and remain in the nest for several weeks. The female broods the young, especially in colder climates or early in the season, while the male continues to provide much of the food. As the chicks grow, both parents may hunt to meet the increasing demand.

Young Long-eared Owls often leave the nest before they are capable of full, sustained flight, clambering out onto surrounding branches and perching near the nest site in a stage known as “branching.” They continue to beg loudly at night, and parents deliver food to these scattered fledglings across the surrounding trees and shrubs. Family groups may stay loosely together for some time before dispersing.

Foraging

Long-eared Owls are primarily small-mammal specialists, with voles, mice, and other small rodents forming the bulk of their diet in many regions. They hunt mostly at night, though they may begin at dusk and continue into the pre-dawn hours, especially when feeding a brood.

Hunting methods usually involve perch-and-pounce or low coursing flight. In perch-and-pounce mode, an owl sits quietly on a fence post, low tree branch, or shrub at the edge of a field, listening for rustles and movements below. Once prey is detected, it drops silently in a controlled plunge, extending its talons in the final moments to seize the rodent.

In low coursing flight, the owl patrols fields and grasslands at modest height, alternating flapping and gliding, with head lowered slightly to scan and listen. Their hearing is finely tuned, and the asymmetrical ear placement typical of many owls allows them to pinpoint prey movements even under snow or dense vegetation.

Though rodents dominate the menu, they will also take small birds, especially at night or at roosts, as well as occasional insects, shrews, or other small vertebrates. Prey is usually swallowed whole, and indigestible material—bones, fur, feathers—is later regurgitated as compact pellets at roost sites and near nests. These pellets provide valuable clues to diet and hunting success in different habitats.

Conservation Status

Long-eared Owls are widely distributed but often under-detected due to their secretive behavior. In many regions, they are considered uncommon but regular, and at a broad scale they are not currently regarded as one of the most imperiled owl species in North America. However, local trends can be mixed, and some areas report declines, particularly where key habitat elements have been lost.

Major concerns include the removal of dense roosting cover and edge woodlands in agricultural and suburban landscapes, as well as the loss or fragmentation of grasslands and shrublands that support prey populations. The conversion of mixed, patchy landscapes into uniform cropland or heavily built-up areas can reduce both roosting opportunities and food availability.

Because Long-eared Owls depend heavily on existing stick nests of other species, declines in corvids or hawks due to persecution or habitat change could also indirectly affect nesting opportunities. In some regions, pesticide use that reduces small mammal populations may impact their food supply, and secondary poisoning from rodenticides is a potential risk wherever those chemicals are used.

Nonetheless, the species retains a broad range and remains capable of exploiting a variety of wooded–open mosaics, including shelterbelts, hedgerows, and planted conifer groves. Conservation actions that maintain and restore these mosaics—preserving small woodlots, shelterbelts, riparian groves, and native grasslands; reducing unnecessary removal of dense trees and hedges; and limiting rodenticide use—are likely to benefit Long-eared Owls along with many other grassland and woodland edge species.