Galápagos Short-Eared Owl: Facts and Where to See It

The owl takes its name from small ear tufts near the centre of the forehead. It flies silently and low over open grassland and lava, hunting rats, lava lizards and birds, and can kill birds larger than itself, such as boobies, by striking the back of the neck.

• By day. Most owls hunt at night, but this one hunts in daylight too, which the Galapagos Conservation Trust links to avoiding competition with the Galápagos hawk. On islands without hawks, it is seen in the daytime.
• The storm petrel ambush. On Genovesa, storm petrels nest deep in tunnels in the lava. The owls stalk nearby, watch the petrels come and go, and grab them as they leave, or hide in the tunnel entrance to catch them as they fly in.

Short-eared owls live in open areas of grassland and lava rock across the archipelago and have been known to fly between islands. They nest on the ground under trees and shrubs and lay one clutch a year of two to four eggs. The eggs hatch after three to six weeks, the young fledge at four weeks and can breed after a year.

Guide sighting records list short-eared owls at 2 sites. Prince Philip's Steps on Genovesa is rated Possible, where they hunt storm petrels by day on the lava plateau. Sierra Negra on Isabela, a highland hike, is rated Rare. The Galapagos Conservation Trust also names the seabird colonies of Genovesa as the place they are seen most often.

Short-eared owls can be seen at any time of year. On most islands they are most active at night and early in the morning, and on islands without the Galápagos hawk they hunt in full daylight; at Prince Philip's Steps the guide records note them hunting storm petrels by day. In the next twelve months, 476 departures stop at a site where they are seen.

No, it is listed as Least Concern. The population was estimated at around 9,000 pairs in the 1980s, and more research is needed for a current figure. The biggest threat is introduced rats, which eat the eggs. The owls are expected to benefit from the work to remove invasive mammals from Floreana. Park rules keep visitors at least 2 metres (6 feet) from wildlife and on the marked trail.

1. Looking only in the trees. They hunt low over open lava and grass and often sit on the ground.
2. Hurrying across the plateau at Prince Philip's Steps. Their mottled brown blends with the lava; walk slowly and scan.
3. Leaving out Genovesa. It is the one Possible site in the guide records.