short-eared owl: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialist / Formal (primarily zoological, ornithological, birdwatching); can appear in general natural history writing.
Quick answer
What does “short-eared owl” mean?
A medium-sized owl species (Asio flammeus) characterized by small, often inconspicuous ear tufts, known for its diurnal and crepuscular hunting habits in open country.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medium-sized owl species (Asio flammeus) characterized by small, often inconspicuous ear tufts, known for its diurnal and crepuscular hunting habits in open country.
In ornithological contexts, refers specifically to this widespread, ground-nesting owl. In broader cultural use, it can symbolize adaptability (due to its global distribution) and unobtrusive observation (due to its camouflaged, low-profile hunting).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The species name is standard. Regional differences pertain to descriptions of its habitat (UK: 'moorland', 'coastal marshes'; US/Canada: 'prairies', 'tundra', 'airfields').
Connotations
In UK, associated with protected moorland and wetland habitats. In North America, connotations include vast open landscapes and adaptability to human-altered environments like airports.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, common in specialist ornithological texts, birding guides, and wildlife documentaries in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “short-eared owl” in a Sentence
The [LOCATION] supports a population of short-eared owls.Short-eared owls [VERB: hunt, nest, soar] over [OPEN HABITAT].[BIRDERS/ORNITHOLOGISTS] spotted a short-eared owl.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “short-eared owl” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The field was managed to encourage short-eared owls to overwinter.
- The species has been short-eared owling in these marshes for decades.
American English
- Conservation efforts aim to have the area short-eared-owled again by next spring. (informal/rare)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The short-eared owl survey yielded promising results.
- We adopted a short-eared-owl-friendly mowing regime.
American English
- The short-eared-owl habitat restoration project is underway.
- A short-eared-owl-specific management plan was drafted.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, conservation biology papers.
Everyday
Used by birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, in nature reserves.
Technical
Standard term in ornithological field guides, species inventories, habitat management plans.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “short-eared owl”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “short-eared owl”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “short-eared owl”
- Misspelling as 'short-eared owl' (missing hyphen).
- Confusing it with the 'long-eared owl'.
- Using it as a countable noun without an article ('I saw short-eared owl').
- Capitalizing all words except in taxonomic titles ('Short-eared Owl' is correct when citing the full common name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the 'ears' are feather tufts on its head called plumicorns. Its actual ears are openings on the sides of its skull, hidden by feathers.
Yes, it is one of the most diurnal owl species, often hunting in daylight, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
It nests on the ground, often in a shallow scrape concealed among tall grass or heather, which makes its nests vulnerable.
Yes, it has one of the most widespread distributions of any owl, found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and many islands.
A medium-sized owl species (Asio flammeus) characterized by small, often inconspicuous ear tufts, known for its diurnal and crepuscular hunting habits in open country.
Short-eared owl is usually specialist / formal (primarily zoological, ornithological, birdwatching); can appear in general natural history writing. in register.
Short-eared owl: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːt ˌɪəd ˈaʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːrt ˌɪrd ˈaʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly. The species itself is sometimes used metaphorically for 'an unexpected daytime observer'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Short ears, long hours' – it has short feather tufts and is active during long daylight hours, unlike many owls.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHORT-EARED OWL IS A STEALTHY DAYSHIFT WORKER (hunts in open view yet is overlooked, works during the day).
Practice
Quiz
What primary feature distinguishes the short-eared owl from the long-eared owl?