捷克共和国波希米亚-摩拉维亚高地的长耳鸮

:copyright: Ondrej Prosicky/Alam

“长耳”猫头鹰

树上是谁？这是一只典型的长耳鸮，有时也被称为小角鸮。它是世界上数量最多的鸮之一，种群数量约为200万-550万，广泛分布于北半球。照片中的长耳鸮被拍摄于捷克。它们能适应各种各样的栖息地，包括北极附近。

也许适应能力强正是它们群居的原因。长耳鸮经常群体栖息在树枝上，20只至100只蜷缩在一起过冬。你可能以为这么一大群长耳鸮会很显眼，但它们其实非常“鸟鸟祟祟”。它们会躲在隐蔽的地方，尤其当它们的羽毛与周围的树枝和树叶融为一体时，是非常难被发现的。早春，在树叶发芽之前，是你最有可能发现树上一群长耳鸮的时候。

Long-eared owl in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands of the Czech Republic

:copyright: Ondrej Prosicky/Alam

Widespread and long-eared. Long-eared owl, Czech Republic

Whooo is that up in that tree? Why, it’s a typical long-eared owl, sometimes called the lesser horned owl or cat owl. It’s one of the most numerous owl species in the world with an estimated population between 2 million and 5.5 million across the Northern Hemisphere. Our featured friend today was found in the Czech Republic, but they’ll adapt to several kinds of habitats, including those near the Arctic. The name is a little misleading as those aren’t actually ears sticking up on its head, they’re tufts of feathers.

Long-eared owls are unusually social, as far as owls go. They’ll often roost together in large groups - anywhere from 20 to 100 of them may hunker down together for the winter. You might think it would be easy to spot such a large group, but they hide in thick cover where their feathers blend in with the branches and leaves. Early spring, before the leaves have fully returned, is the most likely time you’d catch a glimpse of a ‘parliament,’ or group, of long-eared owls.