The short-eared owl can also be found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The short-eared owl has a length of 14 inches and wing span of 42 inches. Males and females are not easily distinguishable from each other externally, but the female is usually slightly larger.
Individuals vary considerably in colors.
The right and left ears occupy different vertical positions on the sides of their head, but the size and shape of the two ears are the same. The short-eared owl preys primarily on voles, mice, and other small mammals. Its strong talons and sharp beak make it well adapted to 'picking up' its food while in flight. Otherwise, it hunts by flying two meters above the ground in a regular, slow manner. One observer reported that copulation took 4 seconds, after which the male and female flew in different directions.