The Short-eared Owl is tawny in color, and has dark streaks on the upper breast.
Black feathers surround the lemon-yellow eyes.
There is a white hourglass shape located between the eyes, and the facial disk is also edged in white. As the name suggests, the ear tufts are very short, and rarely even visible. On perched birds, the wingtips reach slightly beyond the tip of the tail. While in flight, the Short-ear shows dark spots at the bend of the wing. On the upper wing, these Carpal Patches contrast with the bright buff areas at the base of the primaries.