The Long-eared Owl is a slender, superbly camouflaged owl that is one of the hardest to find in Michigan, thanks to its retiring habits and its trick of "hiding in plain sight." Roosting by day in dense conifers, it stretches its streaky brown body tall and thin, raises its long, close-set ear tufts, and squints its eyes to become a near-invisible extension of a branch. The rich orange facial disk and yellow eyes are striking when seen, but seeing one at all usually requires knowing exactly where to look.
Strictly nocturnal, the Long-eared Owl hunts by coursing low over open fields and meadows at night, using its exceptional hearing to catch voles and mice in the dark. It roosts in dense evergreens near such hunting grounds, sometimes in small communal groups in winter. In Michigan it is an uncommon and easily overlooked winter visitor and a scarce, secretive local breeder, using old crow and hawk nests. Discovering a roosting Long-eared Owl tucked into a spruce is a genuine thrill for the state's owl watchers.
Feeds mainly on small mammals, especially voles and mice, hunting at night by flying low over open fields and meadows and locating prey largely by sound with its acute hearing. It takes some small birds as well, and its numbers and movements track rodent abundance.
It is strictly nocturnal and roosts by day in dense conifers, where it stretches thin, raises its ear tufts, and squints to blend into the branches. This camouflage and its retiring habits make it one of the most easily overlooked owls.
The Long-eared Owl is much slimmer and smaller, with long, close-set ear tufts, a rich orange facial disk, and a streaky, elongated shape. The Great Horned Owl is far bulkier, with wider-set ear tufts and a more barrel-chested build.
Mostly in winter, when it roosts in dense evergreens near open hunting grounds, sometimes in small communal groups. It is also a scarce, secretive local breeder, using old crow and hawk nests.
Owlets are downy gray-white with a dark mask around the eyes that makes them look permanently startled, and the ear tufts are barely visible until later. Fledglings give a distinctive squeaky-gate begging call at night.
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