Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is in the Typical Owls family (Strigidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,660 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Short-eared Owl: observations by month (U.S.)
About Short-eared Owl
The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is a species of typical owl (family Strigidae). Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may not be visible. Asio flammeus will display its tufts when in a defensive pose, although its very short tufts are usually not visible. The short-eared owl is found in open country and grasslands. The scientific name is...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Short-eared Owl by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 582 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Washington | 553 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Texas | 410 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Ohio | 384 | January | Dec–Feb |
| New York | 333 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Oregon | 265 | January | Nov–Jul |
| Illinois | 259 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Maryland | 220 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Montana | 204 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 198 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Alaska | 183 | June | May–Aug |
| Missouri | 155 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Michigan | 150 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 139 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Idaho | 126 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 125 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Indiana | 112 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Tennessee | 104 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Minnesota | 98 | March | Oct–Apr |
| New Jersey | 98 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Delaware | 92 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Utah | 84 | May | May–Aug |
| Vermont | 76 | January | Jan–Mar |
| Virginia | 67 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Dakota | 65 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 63 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Iowa | 58 | December | Oct–Feb |
| Kansas | 47 | January | Dec–Apr |
| Colorado | 46 | January | Jan–Jan |
| North Dakota | 39 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wyoming | 39 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Kentucky | 33 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Florida | 28 | January | Jan–Feb |
| North Carolina | 27 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Nebraska | 26 | April | Feb–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 24 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Maine | 24 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Arizona | 18 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Nevada | 15 | June | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 14 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Connecticut | 11 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 10 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Georgia | 9 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Mississippi | 9 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Hawaii | 8 | March | Mar–Jun |
| New Mexico | 8 | December | Oct–Feb |
| West Virginia | 8 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Arkansas | 6 | January | Dec–Feb |
| South Carolina | 5 | December | Dec–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Typical Owls)
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Burrowing Owl
Western Screech-Owl
Snowy Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Long-eared Owl
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Short-eared Owl?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from November to March.
Where is Short-eared Owl most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Texas.