Short-eared Owl

  • Short-eared Owl ©Godfrey Merlen

    Short-eared owl © Godfrey Merlen

  • Galapagos Wildlife: Owl © Galapagos Conservation Trust

    Short-eared owl © Galapagos Conservation Trust

Species Data

Common Name Short-eared owl
Scientific Name Asio flammeus galapagoensis
Spanish Name Búho campestre de las Galapagos
Conservation Status

Galapagos Graphics: IUCN Red List Least Concern © Dan Wright

Least Concern

Endemic/Native/Introduced

Endemic 

Size 37-38 cm long
Average Lifespan 13 years
Predators Introduced rats predate on their eggs but as adults they are apex predators.
Food Carnivore (seabird chicks, petrels, small mammals such as rats and mice and large insects)
Animal Class Bird

Species Overview

The short-eared owl found in Galapagos is a smaller, darker sub-species of short-eared owl, a species that is widespread throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. They hunt by day on islands where there are no Galapagos hawks and night-time on islands where there are hawks (they are diurnal), and are wide-spread throughout the islands. They nest under shrubs and bushes generally in the highlands on Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Isabela, San Cristobal and Floreana. Their specialised wings allow them to be particular agile fliers whilst being almost completely noiseless in flight. They are generally monogamous and lay between 3 and 4 eggs per clutch, although normally only two chicks survive to adulthood.

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Species Data
Common Name Short-eared owl
Scientific Name Asio flammeus galapagoensis
Spanish Name Búho campestre de las Galapagos
Conservation Status

Galapagos Graphics: IUCN Red List Least Concern © Dan Wright

Least Concern

Endemic / Native / Introduced

Endemic 

Size 37-38 cm long
Average Lifespan 13 years
Predators Introduced rats predate on their eggs but as adults they are apex predators.
Food Carnivore (seabird chicks, petrels, small mammals such as rats and mice and large insects)
Animal Class Bird