This owl's flight often includes an unusual clapping of wings together beneath the body, producing a fluttering sound. This is often included in courtship flight, which is unique and showy, consisting of a number of short dives ending in an upward swoop. Wounded bird actions are common during nesting periods with either parent acting as a decoy to draw away a potential predator. Hissing and bill-snapping are also common. During migration and winter, the short-eared owl is generally silent.
Most vocalizations occur during courting and nesting.
The nest is generally a slight depression in the ground, sometimes lined sparsely with grasses or weed stalks. Courtship may begin in March, the eggs being laid some time between early April and mid-May. The young may hatch at intervals of several days, accounting for great extremes in development of nest mates. Sexual maturity is reached at 2 years. Predators Man and other large predators.