Silently swooping over the open English countryside in search of its next meal is a short-eared owl, though that"s something of a misnomer. Named for the inconspicuous tufts on top of its head that resemble ears, the owl"s true ears are on the side of its head, hidden by feathers. But those tiny false "ears," which may function as display feathers or camouflage, lend the owl a distinctive appearance, and the short-eared owl is often affectionately called "shortie." Here in England, short-eared owls are seen more frequently in winter, when their numbers are boosted by an influx of continental birds migrating from Scandinavia, Russia, and Iceland.
Short-eared owl
Today in History
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Quebec City for Winter Carnival
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Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
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A long winter’s nap, perhaps?
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International Womens Day
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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National Hug Day
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May we have this dance?
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Veterans Day
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Everest s shadow on the Himalayas
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Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
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Bridge over the River Tara
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A national icon
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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
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Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Pumpkin patch
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Springtime in the Mediterranean
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Corfe gets creepy
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Cappadocia, Türkiye
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Duck, duck. duck, duck, duck...
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Gem State views
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Puma in Patagonia
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Celebrating World Wildlife Day
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It s ∞ Day!
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Happy Lunar New Year!
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A cliff-hanging complex of temples
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‘Think equal, build smart, innovate for change’
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Pride Month
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Where fire meets water
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A water loch-ed castle
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A sizzling summit hides in the clouds