Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

The Short-eared Owl is native to much of Eurasia, including South Asia, and both North and South America. It is active day and night. Its main habitat is open country rather than woods, nesting usually on the ground rather than tree holes.

The "Short Ears" are often laid flat on the head. In addition to having shorter "ears" (tufts of feathers that aren't really the bird's ears) than the Long-eared Owl which shares much of its range, the Short-eared has yellow irises, like many day-hunting owls, rather than deep orange or red of nocturnal owls. The flecked front has simple vertical lines rather than branched, arrowlike lines.