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Bird

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

A winter visitor to West Virginia, found in all 55 counties and 5 habitats.

Here
Winter
Nesting
Not known to nest here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
5

At a glance

Group
Birds
Here
Winter
Nesting
Not known to nest here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
5
Habitat models
Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in West Virginia 5

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 5

Forest edges and thickets

Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж"
WinterDisturbed/Successional - Shrub Regeneration; Successional Shrub/Scrub (Other); Harvested Forest - Shrub RegenerationPaul Sawyier, Landscape: young trees and shrubs in autumn colour crowding the rocky edge of a Kentucky woodland. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky (Paul Sawyier, Landscape; Johnson Collection), a neighboring state.Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж", Paul Sawyier, c. 1890-1917. Public domain. Source record.

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

Winter

Mountain balds

Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.

WinterSouthern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Herbaceous Modifier

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

WinterDeveloped, Open Space; Cultivated Cropland; Pasture/Hay; Disturbed/Successional - Grass/Forb Regeneration; Utility Swath - Herbaceous; Disturbed, Non-specific; Ruderal Upland - Old Field

Shale barrens

Steep, sun-baked slopes of loose shale with sparse oaks and Virginia pine and their own endemic wildflowers. Linked only where the source names shale barrens; calcareous shale stays with the limestone glades.

Winter
Other habitats in its models (209)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in West Virginia. Those recorded in West Virginia first, the rest by region.

Elsewhere in the South (53)
  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Interdunal Wetland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Freshwater Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Large Natural Lakeshore Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Sea Island Beach Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Beach Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Dune and Maritime Grassland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Winter.
  • Central and Upper Texas Coast Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore Winter.
  • Central Florida Herbaceous Seep Winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Stabilized Coppice Dune and Sand Flat Scrub Winter.
  • Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Winter.
  • Edwards Plateau Limestone Shrubland Winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Florida Dry Prairie Winter.
  • Florida Panhandle Beach Vegetation Winter.
  • Florida Peninsula Inland Scrub Winter.
  • Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Winter.
  • Louisiana Beach Winter.
  • Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Winter.
  • South Florida Freshwater Slough and Gator Hole Winter.
  • South Florida Shell Hash Beach Winter.
  • South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Winter.
  • Southeast Florida Beach Winter.
  • Southeastern Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Southern Blackland Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Herbaceous Seepage Bog Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • Southwest Florida Beach Winter.
  • Southwest Florida Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Calcareous Thornscrub Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Savanna Grassland Winter.
  • Texas Coastal Bend Beach Winter.
  • Texas Saline Coastal Prairie Winter.
  • Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie Winter.
  • Upper Texas Coast Beach Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Nepheline Syenite Glade Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Calcareous Prairie Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Calcareous Prairie Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Sandhill Steppe Winter.
Northeast (8)
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Sandy Beach Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Winter.
  • Great Lakes Freshwater Estuary and Delta Winter.
  • Laurentian-Acadian Freshwater Marsh Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dune and Swale Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Heathland and Grassland Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Sandy Beach Winter.
Midwest (19)
  • Central Mixedgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Central Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Tallgrass Aspen Parkland Winter.
  • Great Lakes Alvar Winter.
  • Great Lakes Dune Winter.
  • Great Lakes Wet-Mesic Lakeplain Prairie Winter.
  • Great Plains Prairie Pothole Winter.
  • Laurentian Pine-Oak Barrens Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • North-Central Oak Barrens Winter.
  • Northern Great Lakes Coastal Marsh Winter.
  • Northern Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Northwestern Great Plains Shrubland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Open Freshwater Depression Wetland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Saline Depression Wetland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Sand Prairie Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Winter.
West (87)
  • Apacherian-Chihuahuan Mesquite Upland Scrub Winter.
  • Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland and Steppe Winter.
  • California Central Valley and Southern Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • California Mesic Serpentine Grassland Winter.
  • California Northern Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Gypsophilous Grassland and Steppe Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Sandy Plains Semi-Desert Grassland Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Succulent Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Chihuahuan-Sonoran Desert Bottomland and Swale Grassland Winter.
  • Colorado Plateau Blackbrush-Mormon-tea Shrubland Winter.
  • Colorado Plateau Mixed Bedrock Canyon and Tableland Winter.
  • Colorado Plateau Mixed Low Sagebrush Shrubland Winter.
  • Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper Shrubland Winter.
  • Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland Winter.
  • Columbia Basin Palouse Prairie Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Ash and Tuff Badland Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Low Sagebrush Steppe Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Scabland Shrubland Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Silver Sagebrush Seasonally Flooded Shrub-Steppe Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Steppe and Grassland Winter.
  • Columbia Plateau Vernal Pool Winter.
  • Great Basin Xeric Mixed Sagebrush Shrubland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Alkaline Closed Depression Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Greasewood Flat Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Interdunal Swale Wetland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Juniper Savanna Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Mat Saltbush Shrubland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Playa Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Grassland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Shale Badland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Wash Winter.
  • Klamath-Siskiyou Xeromorphic Serpentine Savanna and Chaparral Winter.
  • Madrean Juniper Savanna Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Alpine Bedrock and Scree Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Alpine Dry Tundra Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Northern Coastal Dune Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Serpentine Barrens Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Serpentine Fen Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Southern Coastal Dune Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Subalpine Meadow Winter.
  • Mediterranean California Subalpine-Montane Fen Winter.
  • Mojave Mid-Elevation Mixed Desert Scrub Winter.
  • North American Arid West Emergent Marsh Winter.
  • North American Warm Desert Active and Stabilized Dune Winter.
  • North American Warm Desert Playa Winter.
  • North American Warm Desert Riparian Mesquite Bosque Winter.
  • North American Warm Desert Wash Winter.
  • North Pacific Alpine and Subalpine Dry Grassland Winter.
  • North Pacific Bog and Fen Winter.
  • North Pacific Herbaceous Bald and Bluff Winter.
  • North Pacific Hypermaritime Shrub and Herbaceous Headland Winter.
  • North Pacific Intertidal Freshwater Wetland Winter.
  • North Pacific Maritime Coastal Sand Dune and Strand Winter.
  • North Pacific Montane Grassland Winter.
  • North Pacific Oak Woodland Winter.
  • North Pacific Serpentine Barren Winter.
  • Northern California Coastal Scrub Winter.
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Foothill Conifer Wooded Steppe Winter.
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland Winter.
  • Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Upper Montane Grassland Winter.
  • Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow Winter.
  • Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Shrubland Winter.
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen Winter.
  • Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow Winter.
  • Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Sonora-Mojave Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Sonoran Mid-Elevation Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Sonoran Paloverde-Mixed Cacti Desert Scrub Winter.
  • Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland Winter.
  • Temperate Pacific Freshwater Emergent Marsh Winter.
  • Temperate Pacific Freshwater Mudflat Winter.
  • Temperate Pacific Intertidal Mudflat Winter.
  • Temperate Pacific Montane Wet Meadow Winter.
  • Temperate Pacific Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Closed Depression Wetland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Foothill and Piedmont Grassland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Willamette Valley Upland Prairie and Savanna Winter.
  • Willamette Valley Wet Prairie Winter.
  • Wyoming Basins Dwarf Sagebrush Shrubland and Steppe Winter.
Land cover and other classes (42)
  • Acadian Salt Marsh and Estuary Systems Winter.
  • Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Depression Pondshore Winter.
  • Barren Land Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Creosotebush, Mixed Desert and Thorn Scrub Winter.
  • Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thorn Scrub Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Herbaceous Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Prairie and Woodland Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Herbaceous Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Depression Pondshore Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Wet Meadow, Prairie, and Marsh Winter.
  • Eastern Highland Rim Prairie and Barrens - Dry Modifier Winter.
  • Great Lakes Coastal Marsh Systems Winter.
  • Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Marsh Systems Winter.
  • Harvested Forest - Grass/Forb Regeneration Winter.
  • Harvested Forest - Northwestern Conifer Regeneration Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland Winter.
  • Inter-Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Shrub Steppe Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Annual Grassland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Forbland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland and Forbland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Shrub Winter.
  • Modified/Managed Southern Tall Grassland Winter.
  • Orchards Vineyards and Other High Structure Agriculture Winter.
  • Recently Burned Winter.
  • Recently Burned Forest Winter.
  • Recently Burned Grassland Winter.
  • Recently Burned Shrubland Winter.
  • Recently Chained Pinyon-Juniper Areas Winter.
  • Recently Logged Areas Winter.
  • South Texas Dune and Coastal Grassland Winter.
  • South Texas Sand Sheet Grassland Winter.
  • South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Herbaceous Modifier Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Clay Grassland Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Mesquite Upland Scrub Winter.
  • Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie Slough Winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore Winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore (Beach/Dune) Winter.
  • Unconsolidated Shore (Lake/River/Pond) Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Badland Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Depressional Wetland Systems Winter.

All habitats

Seasons in West Virginia

  • Winter: does not nest here, in all 55 counties.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in West Virginia, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Birds 96

Plants 905

All of roadsides, fields and disturbed ground in West Virginia

Forest edges and thickets

Birds 63

Plants 204

All of forest edges and thickets in West Virginia

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Birds 120

Plants 12

All of disturbed and introduced wetlands in West Virginia

USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.

Sources