A Review of Prey Selection by the Long-Eared Owl
- 1 January 1976
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Ornithological Applications
- Vol. 78 (3) , 331-336
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1367692
Abstract
A diet profile is presented for long-eared owls [Asio otus], based on original field study and examination of other food studies from North America and Europe. Long-eared owls appear to be adapted for hunting small nocturnal mammals in open areas. Mammals constitute 98.2% of all prey in North America and 88.9% in Europe. Birds are only 1.7% of the prey in North America, compared to 10.9% in Europe. Amphibians, reptiles, fish and arthropods are taken occasionally but in very low percentages. Studies from widespread geographical areas reveal that long-eared owls are more restricted in diet than sympatric owl species. Most studies find little seasonal variation in long-eared owl foods and diets from different habitats are notably consistent. Prey species differ but the diet is typically concentrated on a relatively few species of small mammals regardless of the type or location of the habitat.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Winter Foods of Some Indiana OwlsThe American Midland Naturalist, 1947
- Die ernahrungsokologischen Beziehungen Zwischen Asio otus otus L. und ihren Beutetieren, insbesondre den Microtus‐ArtenEcological Monographs, 1933