Long-eared Owl

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Long-eared Owl, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Green listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	Bern(III), CITES(II)

The Long-eared Owl is a scarce species in the UK and is monitored by the RBBP; however as a nocturnal species which is difficult to detect it is substantially under-reported and the trend is uncertain (Eaton et al. 2021). The most recent UK population estimate is 1,800+ pairs (APEP4) but this is also highly uncertain. The number of occupied 10-km squares in Britain has declined by 18% since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas, but the map shows many gains and losses which may suggest difficulties in detecting the species when present (Balmer et al. 2013).

Long-eared Owls breed at scattered locations in Britain and throughout Ireland. In Ireland the Long-eared Owl is the most abundant owl species, and probably benefits from the absence of the competitively dominant Tawny Owl. Long-eared Owls are sedentary throughout Britain & Ireland but are joined by annually variable numbers of autumn immigrants from Fennoscandia. The winter distribution is patchy throughout both Britain and Ireland and likely to suffer from under-recording.

The Long-eared Owl's breeding range has apparently contracted by 18% since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas but there is also marked turnover, with more than half of squares showing gains or losses since 1968–72. This may be partly a consequence of birds being missed in one atlas or another, but the significant gains in northern England and clusters of losses in southeast England, southwest Scotland and the Black Isle are notable.

Long-eared Owls are present throughout the year but not often recorded on daytime lists. Reporting is slightly higher in summer when juveniles are easily detected by their squeaky calls.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	12 years 10 months 12 days (set in 1987)
Typical Lifespan	4 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.69
Juvenile Survival	0.48 (in first year)

Wing Length	Adults	298.9±7.6 | Range 287–312mm, N=138
	Juveniles	298.5±12.1 | Range 274-312mm, N=52
	Males	296.1±7.1 | Range 285–312mm, N=35
	Females	300.2±7.6 | Range 288–312mm, N=81

Body Weight	Adults	289±39.54 | Range 215–347g, N=125
	Juveniles	281±31.3504 | Range 223–333g, N=39
	Males	266±41.69 | Range 186–329g, N=33
	Females	300±35.08 | Range 245–365g, N=76

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	G* or F*
Field Codes	2-letter: LE | 5-letter code: LOEOW | Euring: 7670

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

Due to the difficulties in detecting the species the trend is uncertain and hence the drivers of change are also unclear.