Asio otus -- (Linnaeus, 1758)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- STRIGIFORMES -- STRIGIDAECommon names: Northern Long-eared Owl;

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United KingdomVagrant:Iceland; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO); Gibraltar (to UK)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 304,000-776,000 pairs, which equates to 609,000-1,550,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 115,000-268,000 pairs, which equates to 229,000-537,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size trend is unknown. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species breeds in dense vegetation adjacent to open areas such as grassland or shrubland, including open forest, nesting and roosting in forest. In mainland Europe, breeding occurs in edge woodland and scrub and in Britain it favours shelterbelts, small groves and thickets surrounded by moorland, grassland, marshes or farmland. Outside the breeding season it is found in similar habitats, including farmland with hedgerows. The breeding season is from February to July (Olsen 1999). It uses the abandoned stick nests of other species, such as crows (Corvus), magpies (Pica), raptors, herons (Ardea) (König and Weick 2008). It also accepts artificial baskets, and sometimes lays in cavities in trees or cliffs, or on the ground. Clutches are generally five to seven eggs. It feeds principally on small mammals, although some studies have found birds to be

important (Olsen 1999). The species is mainly migratory in Fennoscandia and Russia but further south in Europe it is more sedentary (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Plantations suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Plantations suitable non-breedingForest - Boreal suitable breedingForest - Boreal suitable non-breedingForest - Temperate suitable breedingForest - Temperate suitable non-breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingShrubland - Boreal suitable breedingShrubland - Boreal suitable non-breedingShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breedingShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable non-breedingShrubland - Temperate suitable breedingShrubland - Temperate suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Shrub Dominated Wetlands suitable non-breedingAltitude max. 2750 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsDeclines in Britain are thought to be due to the expanding population of Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), competing for space, food and nest sites (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997, Olsen 1999). Agricultural intensification and declining vole populations are also driving declines in Europe (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Locally, threats include pesticide use, persecution and road traffic collisions (König and Weick 2008).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation; Indirect ecosystem effects

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (unintentional effects - species is not the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesCompetition

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

Transportation & service corridors

Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

ConservationConservation Actions Underway

CITES Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. In Britain the species has benefited from the provision of artificial nesting sites (Marks et al. 1994).

Conservation Actions ProposedIt is suggested that road collisions could be decreased by reducing the availability of small rodents in close proximity to roads, through allowing vegetation to grow naturally or by planting short bushes (Baudvin 1997). Management to prevent vole declines should involve the creation of a mosaic of different habitat types with grassland mown at different times of the year together with undisturbed strips (Aschwanden et al. 2005). Breeding can be encouraged through the provision of artificial nesting platforms and open fronted nestboxes (Olsen 1999). In addition in harsh winters, food supplies can be augmented through the provision of feeding stations near day roosts (König and Weick 2008).

BibliographyAschwanden, J., Birrer, S. and Jenni, L. 2005. Are ecological compensation areas attractive hunting sites for common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and long-eared owls (Asio otus)?. Journal of Ornithology 146(3): 279-286.Baudvin, H. 1997. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) mortality along motorways in Bourgogne-Champagne: report and suggestions. In: Duncan, J.R., Johnson, D.H. and Nicholls, T.H. eds. Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere: 2nd International symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-190. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 58-61.Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London.König, C. & Weick, F. 2008. Owls of the world. A&C Black.Marks, J.S., Evans, D.L. and Holt, D.W. 1994. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/133Olsen, P.D. 1999. Northern Long-eared Owl (Asio otus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55125 on 1 April 2015).

Map (see overleaf)