Short-eared owls are medium-sized with mottled brown bodies, pale under-wings and yellow eyes. It’s rare to see their short ‘ears’ (actually tufts of feathers), so it may be easier to look for the black markings around its eyes resembling deep eye shadow. Its a more frequently seen in the daytime than other owls. Especially active around dawn and dusk, when it flies lazily over open fields or marshes in search of small mammals. Overall rather pale brown, palest on belly, with streaks and spots on wings and chest. Large buffy patch near the wingtips easily visible in flight. Females darker brown than males. Rarely heard vocalizing away from breeding grounds, where it makes a low series of hoots and a variety of harsh barking noises.