Short-Eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is an owl found in wooded, wetland, grassland, or boreal habitats according to range and season. Field identification usually centers on facial disk shape, eye color, ear tufts, size, barring, and the balance of gray, brown, buff, or white plumage. It hunts mostly at dawn, dusk, or night, taking small mammals, birds, insects, or amphibians from perches or low flight.

In rehabilitation records, this label keeps short-eared owl separate from broader catch-all categories and from domestic look-alikes. Track source, locality, life stage, permits when relevant, health findings, and the observed color form rather than forcing a generic entry; that keeps releases, transfers, husbandry notes, and future image prompts auditable for Short-Eared Owl.