Short-eared Owls - "Shorty" Fun Facts & Images

Short-eared Owl - All Ears! - Skagit Valley, Washington - We made a few trips to see these beautiful owls and got my best pics in subdued light, like this, at a time when there were not many other photogs around, so we had some intimate moments with this Shortie, and the incredible eye lock images.

Short-eared Owls are one of the most daylight-active owls, especially around dawn and dusk—which is why Skagit evenings can feel like a wildlife show. They hunt low over open country, and that pale face with dark “mascara” rings is unforgettable. 

Short-eared Off to Hunt - Skagit Valley, Washington

These owls love wide-open habitats—marshes, prairies, dunes, agricultural fields—places with low vegetation where small mammals are active. It is very hit-or-miss when trying to find and photograph these guys. But a treat when they come up and put on a show.

Short-eared Owl on Approach - Skagit Valley, Washington - If I am a vole popping up out of the grass for a look around, this is not what I want to see.

“Hunting by sound (and patience)”

They use acute hearing to find prey in grass, then cruise low and drop in fast when something moves. Their diet is mostly small mammals like voles and mice, which is why you often see them working the same areas again and again. 

Short-eared Owl Launching - Skagit Valley, Washington - They fly like a giant moth!

Short-eared Owls have buoyant, “floppy” wingbeats, and people often describe them as looking like a giant moth floating over the fields. If you’ve ever watched one quartering back and forth, you know exactly what that means. I remember the first time I saw one, out of the corner of my eye while photographing a Norther Harrier. Thought it was another one till I saw him pivot on one wing and drop straight to the ground, as if he was sliding down his wing. Crazy cool! They fly so erratically and uniquely.

Short-eared Owl - Like a Kid in a Snow Suit...Mom I Can't Move! - Skagit Valley, Washington - I have to say, this has to be the cutest pic I have ever taken, or seen, of one of these personable little guys. It just reminds me of a kid going to school in a fully overstuffed snow suit. Skipping any fun facts on this post, as it is fun on it's own! As the only person in the area I was given his full attention as he looked back at me.

Short-eared Owl Approaching - Skagit Valley, Washington - I really enjoy getting the shots that are unique in some way, and this image, fully backlit, with a beautiful display of his wing structure fulfills that desire.

 Unlike most owls, Short-eared Owls nest on the ground. The female scrapes a shallow bowl and lines it with grasses and feathers—usually hidden in vegetation for protection. 

Short-eared Owl - Thrill of the Hunt - Skagit Valley, Washington - Nomads… and a conservation watch species here.

Short-eared Owls can be nomadic, showing up where prey numbers are good and shifting around from year to year. In Western Washington, WDFW lists them as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, which makes every respectful, well-documented sighting and photo even more meaningful. 

Short-eared Owl - Lunch Cruise - Skagit Valley, Washington - What a fun time of the year to be a photographer, with low light angles and near Gold Hour all day long. Set up nicely for this shot of him hunting the fields with the moth like wing flaps I mentioned earlier in this series. It is a real treat to witness this.

Short-eared Owl - Lovely Subdued Winter Light - Skagit Valley Washington - Between hunts these guys loved to sit on the perches in the field, that I assume were place by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. We had him in some light peeking through under the clouds with darker skies behind over the mountains setting this up perfectly for a nice photo. This day we were alone along the road, so we had his full attention, making for a very engaging portrait, don't you think?

Short-eared Owl - Lovely Subdued Winter Light - Skagit Valley Washington - Between hunts these guys loved to sit on the perches in the field, that I assume were place by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. We had him in some light peeking through under the clouds with darker skies behind over the mountains setting this up perfectly for a nice photo. This day we were alone along the road, so we had his full attention, making for a very engaging portrait, don't you think?

Short-eared Owl - Pre-Flight Check of Photographer - Skagit Valley, Washington - In this image he is about to lift off, and was watching me in the distance, with my 1000MM long lens, as he reached up for the sky. These are my favorite kind of shots to capture and I will wait a very long time for just the right positions as this happens. Again, I was the only one around so I was happy to get this eye engagement from him as he launched.

Short-eared Owl - Looking Into His Soul - Skagit Valley, Washington - I have to say this is as sharp and detailed as I have ever been able to capture of a "Shortie".

Short-eared Owl Discussing Air Space with Northern Harrier Female - Skagit Valley, Washington - I always enjoy the rivalry of the Short-eared Owls and the Norther Harries. I have yet to see Shorties without Harriers flying at the same time competing for the voles and small critters. The bickering becomes air wars like this. The whole time I was there I was wishing for them to go high against the mountains for a pretty scene. BINGO!

Short-eared Owl - Wing Clapping - Skagit Valley Washington - Here you see a Shortie doing a wing clap, where they “clap” their wings mainly for two reasons:

Courtship: to impress a female

Males do it as part of their dramatic aerial “sky dance,” especially in late winter / early spring. The clapping is both visual and audible, basically saying: “Hey—look at me… I’m a strong male and this is my spot.” 

Territorial warning: to push away rivals

The same wing-clapping can also be used as a warning signal to other owls intruding in the area.  It sounds like a quick burst of 2–6 sharp claps made by snapping the wings together under the body while flying.

Short-eared Owl Diving to Pounce - Skagit Valley, Washington - One of the ways to easily spot these guys is to watch for this maneuver where they glide along low over the fields and then suddenly rotate into a quick dive to pounce on their prey. It looks as if they are pointing a wing at the ground and following it down. So fast and so efficient! And deadly....

Short-eared Owl Carrying Vole - Dinner Date! - Skagit Valley, Washington - I had a front row seat watching this owl catch a Vole, and he flew right past me carrying it. This image was not cropped at all! As soon as the owl caught this vole it took off for some tall grass in an effort to protect his catch. The Norther Harriers make a living stealing food from the owls, so it is a desperate struggle to hang on to any catch. I will post more pics tomorrow of him in the grass looking for raiders. It is pretty cool to see.

Short-eared Owl - Tufts Up Warning Off Thieves - Skagit Valley, Washington - After flying past me with the vole in his talons on my prior post, this Shortie land in some taller grass, sitting on the vole to protect it from the Norther Harriers who love to steal a meal. Check out the raised tufts on his head. They are not ears actually, those are on the sides of his head, the tufts sticking up are to warn off would be thieves and to look aggressive. This is actually why they are called Short-eared Owls. More to come, stay tuned!!

Short-eared Owl Getting Flanked by Female Northern Harrier - Skagit Valley, Washington - In my prior post I talked about why this owl was hunkered down in the grass, scanning all around him, with his tufts up, afraid of getting mugged for his meal. Here is the mugger stalking the owl. Imagine going to the grocery store walking the aisle, and every time you put something yummy in your cart, some stalker grabs your food. Welcome to their world!

Short-eared Owls with Short Tempers - Skagit Valley, Washington - When not fighting with Northern Harriers these Shorties are often engaged in arial dogfights with each other. It is funny to watch as these set up. One of them involved an owl out hunting who decided he was "gonna get some" , and flew 200 yards in a burst of high speed flying, with obvious intent, and attacked another owl shown in this picture. Normally seen floating along the grass casually, this attack run was quite different. Pretty fast when they want to be!

Short-eared Owl - Simply Beautiful - Skagit Valley, Washington - It was so magical hearing the calls of these Shorties as they soared over the fields. I am sharing this image in my series without a real lesson or back story, but simply because it is a beautiful shot of a soaring and calling owl, set against the incredible backdrop of the valley. Enjoy!

Short-eared Owl - On A Wing & A Prayer - Skagit Valley, Washington - In an earlier post I mentioned how when these Shorties spot their prey and go in for the kill, they seem to suddenly pivot in mid-air and rotate in as if following their own wing to the ground. Here is a great illustration of this tactic. When you are looking across a field and see this move, it is likely an owl, as opposed to the Northern Harrier hovering and dropping down on their prey.

Short-eared Owl Courtship Display - Skagit Valley, Washington - This is a courtship display as mating season approaches I was told. Makes sense, maybe earlier than would be expected due to warmer than usual weather.

Short-eared Owl- Return Stare - Skagit Valley, Washington - I think I have shown enough looks at these guys, and hope you learned a few things following my series. The whole series is easy to find on my Keith's Frame of Mind Facebook and Instagram pages, and all the imagers are also in my Collected Works Gallery under Raptors. Here is a parting photo as Shortie rides off to the west, into the setting sun, while giving me a parting glance. I hope you enjoyed all of this as much as I enjoyed presenting it to you. Time to start a new series I guess!