Short-eared Owl on 9x12 watercolor paper, 140 lb. The short-eared owl (*Asio flammeus*) is a medium-sized owl found across much of the world, recognizable by its buffy-brown, heavily streaked plumage that provides excellent camouflage against grasslands and marshes. Its name comes from the tiny ear tufts on top of its head, which are so small they're often invisible. It has a round, pale facial disc rimmed with dark feathers, and striking yellow eyes that give it an intense, alert expression. Unlike most owls, the short-eared owl is frequently active during the day — especially at dawn and dusk — and can be spotted coursing low over open fields and meadows in a buoyant, moth-like flight, wings held in a shallow V as it hunts for voles and mice. It has a wingspan of roughly 33 to 43 inches, making it an impressive sight in flight, and its underparts are pale with dark wrist patches visible from below — a handy field mark for birdwatchers.
