The Long-eared Owl is a captivating yet elusive subject for wildlife photographers. With its striking features and secretive habits, it presents both a challenge and a rewarding experience for those willing to put in the effort.
Long-eared Owl FaceA heavily cropped photo offers a close up of a Long-eared Owls face. The feather details really standout.
Long-eared Owls are masters of blending in with their surroundings. They roost during the day in dense brush, often perched lower than expected. Their intricate feather patterns provide exceptional camouflage, making them almost invisible against tree bark and foliage. This natural defense makes spotting them—let alone photographing them—an exercise in patience and determination.
Photographers also face the challenge of thick vegetation, which can obscure the owl and make it difficult to get a clear shot. However, with persistence and the right techniques, these obstacles can be overcome.
Finding Long-eared Owls requires keen observation and good listening skills. Here are some tips to improve your chances:
Look for Unusual Shapes: Scan the trees carefully for shapes that don’t belong, such as the owl’s ear tufts or a round, compact body tucked into the foliage.
Irregular ShadowsLook for shapes that do not fit the landscape to find the long-eared owls.
Focus on the Right Habitat: Long-eared Owls often roost in dense vegetation or forest with open edges, offering both cover and hunting opportunities.
Listen for Their Calls: During dusk and dawn, listen for their distinctive calls. Following the sound may lead you directly to their location. Here is a link to listen to their calls (CornellLab All About Birds) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-eared_Owl/sounds
Here are some strategies to help you capture stunning images of this elusive bird:
Thick branches and foliage can confuse your camera's autofocus system. Switching to manual focus gives you greater control and ensures the owl remains sharp in your frame.
Set your camera to a large aperture (small f-stop) to achieve a shallow depth of field. This will blur out distracting branches and create a soft background, isolating the owl as the main subject. A large aperture also allows more light into your lens, which in these thick underbrush conditions is a real issue.
Looking for action shots? Dusk and dawn are the best times to find Long-eared Owls active. During these hours, they may emerge from their roosts to hunt, offering better opportunities to capture them in the open.
Looking for portrait shots? Day time when they are roosting the owls will be more likely to sit still as blending in is their best line of defense.
Don’t expect to get the perfect shot on your first visit. Repeated trips to the same location can increase your chances of finding a Long-eared Owl perched in a more visible spot. Persistence often pays off.
Eyes Wide Open The moment this long-eared owl realizes I saw it even though it blends in perfectly.
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Photographing Long-eared Owls is a test of patience, skill, and perseverance. These elusive birds reward photographers with incredible images, but success often comes to those who are prepared and persistent. By using these tips and techniques, you’ll be better equipped to find and photograph this remarkable species.
Have you ever photographed a Long-eared Owl? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
Lea Frye - Wildlife Photographer
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Set For Takeoff (Long-eared Owl)The long-eared owl will flatten it's tuff before takeoff. In fact, they keep them flattened during flight as well.
Lone Rooster (Long-eared Owl)While they will often roost together in the winter, I found this one all by it's lonesome. In another favorite roosting spot I often spotted two or three in close proximity.
www.leaf-images.com | Lea Frye, Wildlife Photographer | Helena, MT
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