The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized, slender owl that often appears to have a surprised expression due to their long ear tufts that typically point straight up like exclamation marks. Although long-eared owls occur in the state year-round, they have a restricted breeding range in southern California and may be more prevalent during the winter. This species is about the size of a crow or mallard, and is considered to be a smaller, slimmer version of the more common great horned owl. They are fairly dark birds with buff/orange faces and detailed black, brown, and buff patterns on their feathers. They also have two ear tufts that are black with buff fringes, and two vertical white stripes between their yellow eyes. The species is very vocal and has a wide variety of hoots, squeals, barks, and other sounds. 

Long-eared owls occur in dense riparian and live oak thickets near meadow edges and nearby woodland and forest habitats and typically spend their day roosting near the trunk of a tree where their plumage provides excellent camouflage. They forage in open grasslands or shrublands by hunting for prey in low, gliding flight, then pouncing onto prey on the ground, and feed mostly on small mammals, including voles, mice, rats, pocket gophers, and young rabbits.  

Long-eared owls do not build their own nests and instead utilize vacant stick nests that are built by crows, ravens, hawks, and squirrels. Nests are usually situated 10-50 feet above the ground in a variety of trees with dense canopies. They typically produce one brood a year and lay eggs in April and May. The clutch size ranges from 2 to 8 eggs, with 5 being average. The female is primarily responsible for incubation, usually 21-28 days. During incubation, the male will hunt and bring food back to the female and will continue this role once the eggs have hatched. Nestlings will typically fledge in less than 50 days after hatching.  

As part of the HCP monitoring program, the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Trust (RMVLT) has been conducting annual monitoring surveys to track the extent and general health of existing coast live oak riparian communities, identify potential stressors (e.g., invasive species, disease), and implement appropriate management actions to enhance, restore, and protect historic nest sites and suitable habitat for the long-eared owl within the HCP Planning Area.