Long-eared Owl

Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758)

2017-07-14 Djal, Chuy Valley	© Ivan Turkovskiy

Biology

Common, in places rare breeding migrant and rare winter visitor. Inhabits various forests both on plains and in mountains at altitudes up to 2000 m on Altai and 3000 m in Tien Shan; forested river valleys; shelterbelts, groves and gardens. In spring appears early, in February or in March. Latest migrants recorded in mid-April – early May. Breeds by separate pairs in old nests of Magpie, Crow, Rook, Buzzard or Kite, rare on ground under bush. Clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid in mid-March to mid-May. Such long breeding period explained by the differing of latitude or altitude of breeding places, by the later nesting of first breeders, and the re-nesting after loss of first clutch. Only female incubates clutch for 27-28 days from the first egg laying; both parents feed offspring. Juveniles fledge in end April to July, and parents feed them two months after fledging. Autumn migration begins in mid-September, in this time the loose flocks of two-three dozen birds can be observed. Mass migration occurs in first half of October, and finishes in November.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.