Short-eared owl hunting in heavy snow

© Dilshan Muthalib/Getty Image

Snow-way you'll miss it. Short-eared owl

The short-eared owl, featured in today's image, is a grassland-dwelling member of the owl family. Found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia, it is one of the most widely distributed bird species. This winged bird is found across Canada, primarily in open habitats such as grasslands, prairies and wetlands. This raptor belongs to the genus Asio, whose members are characterised by feather tufts ('ears') on their heads. The short-eared owl only reveals its tufts when feeling defensive. Because of its irregular wingbeats, its flight is on the floppy side, much like a moth or bat. It likes to glide a few metres above the ground in open fields and grasslands, swooping down feet-first to grab its prey

Owls primarily hunt at night, but this silent hunter is also active during the day and at dusk. Its daylight hunts often coincide with the peak activity of small rodents called voles—its favourite meal. Known to relocate to areas with higher rodent populations, the short-eared owl even wanders nomadically in search of better food supplies during years when vole populations are low. In the breeding season, it is commonly found in the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as in parts of Ontario and Quebec. During migration, it can be spotted across much of southern Canada. In winter, short-eared owls may move south to more temperate regions, but they are also known to remain in some areas of southern Canada if food and suitable habitat are available.