Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

The short-eared owl prefers to live in marshes and bogs, inhabiting open, treeless areas. This owl has crepuscular feeding habits, meaning it hunts during the twilight hours. It feeds primarily on voles, mice, and other small mammals. During nesting, either parent will act as a decoy or "wounded bird" to draw away a potential predator from the offspring. The short-eared owl's lifespan is 8 to 10 years.