Short-Eared Owl Asio flammeus By: Jason Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Aves Order: Strigifomes Family: Strigidae Genus: Asio Species: flammeus

The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is an animal species in the Animal kingdom. Asio flammeus is the scientific name of the short-eared owl. The short-eared owl begins nesting in late February to March. Its nest is on the ground and they sit on their eggs for about 26 days.

The birds are adapted to flying. Even their skeleton has special features to help them fly. They nest in the northern regions of North America but go south in the winter. The short-eared owl enjoys sun bathing. They face the sun with their eyes closed and wings spread. The short-eared owl is a species of concern. The short-eared owl call is like this; a series of deep hoots rising, then falling in pitch. The population of the short-eared owl is decreasing rapidly.

Habitat is where the population of a species lives. Short-eared owls typically live in grassland, tundra, marshes and dunes. Their nests are on the ground. Short-eared owls over-winter in old fields, haymeadows, pasture or marshes. They look for food over open fields during the early morning or late evening.

The short-eared owl is a vertebrate, which means that it has a backbone. The short-eared owl is warm-blooded, which means that it has a constant body temperature. Short-eared owls have a long wing span of three feet. They have dark markings on their wings. They are buff-colored with many brown streaks. They are generally dusky brown with dark mottling above, and paler below with dark streaks. The short-eared owl has a large greyish facial disk, which is the circle around his face, with black around its smallish yellow eyes.

The short-eared owl is a predator. This means that it hunts and captures prey, which means animals that are being hunted and killed. Short-eared owls eat mostly mice but also shrews, cotton rats, rabbits, pocket gophers, bats and zoo mice. It is really a vole or field mouse specialist. Almost the entire diet is made up of these small rodents. The short-eared owl is a carnivore. That means it only eats meat.

The large destruction of native grassland ecosystems has been particularly hard for this species. Drainage of wetland for urban expansion and intensive farming have helped in the short-eared owl’s decline. This species is open to danger from predators and machinery because its nest is on the ground. A few of the dangers are destruction of habitat, prairie grasslands, shooting and collisions with moving vehicles. This species'  attraction to open airport habitats is another problem. The short-eared owl has been known to fly into airplane's motors which could make the plane crash and always kills the bird.

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