**4.5 Long-eared owl** *Asio otus* **(Linnaeus, 1758) (IUCN red list: LC)**

The following are explained in **Figure 15**.

Iraq

Status: Rare breeding residents and winter visitors in northern, numbers of trapped birds observed in autumn suggested heavy passage migrant and probably wintering in low numbers in Central and Southern Iraq (**Figure 3**).

Literature records: Amara, Nasarijeh, Baghdad, and Legait [1], near Great Zab River area [3], Mousl [9], and from Northern Iraq [60].

Recent records: Large numbers of owls trapped somewhere in the southwestern desert of Iraq (see **Figure 3**). University of Baghdad.

Syria

Status: Winter visitor, breeding in Euphrates valley and coast region. Spread in all regions. Mainly found usually in the forested area among pine, cedar, or eucalyptus trees.

*Queens of the Night, the Owls of Iraq and Syria - Species, Current Distribution,… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109571*

#### **Figure 15.**

*Distribution of Long-eared owl Asio otus in Iraq and Syria.*

Literature records: Skabro [61], Palmyra [24, 62], Gharaneij [27], Al-Hasaka, Palmyra [28], Damascus, at-Tanaf [17], Bloudan [30], Al-Hseiniyeh [54], and Deir ez-Zor [55],

Recent records: Kherbat Al-Hamam, Jubb Ramlah, Sokas,Al-Koum, Salamiyah, Sheen, Yabroud, az-Zabadani, and Tabqah (**Figures 16** and **17**).

### **4.6 Short-eared owl** *Asio flammeus* **(Pontoppidan, 1763) (IUCN red list: LC)**

The following are explained in **Figure 18**.

Iraq

Status: Uncommon but widespread winter visitors and probably heavy on passage based on large numbers of trapped birds in autumn (**Figure 2**).

Literature records: Fao [43], Amara, Kut, Qalet Saleh, Suleimania [1], Baghdad and Aziziyah [3], and Mosul [9].

Recent records: Only one bird flashed at sunset in the Central Marshes in Southern Iraq.

Syria

Status: Very rare winter visitor. It was recorded only at two sites in the middle of Al-Badia in Central Syria.

Literature records: Palmyra [22] and Talila Reserve [62].

**Figure 16.** *A migrant adult Long-eared owl Asio otus at the University of Baghdad, Iraq. Photo © Omar Al-Sheikhly.*

**Figure 17.** *Adult Long-eared owl Asio otus at Al-Hseiniyeh. Photo © Ahmad Aidek.*

*Queens of the Night, the Owls of Iraq and Syria - Species, Current Distribution,… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109571*

**Figure 18.** *Distribution of Short-eared owl Asio flammeus in Iraq and Syria.*

### **4.7 Eurasian eagle owl** *Bubo bubo* **(Linnaeus, 1758) (IUCN red list: LC)**

The following are explained in **Figure 19**.

Iraq

Status: Breeding residents mainly in the wooded mountains and rocky hills of northern, found in the elevated grounds of Central, Eastern, and Southern Iraq. Careful identification is required for birds in the rocky hills of Southeastern Iraq as an overlap with Pharaoh Eagle Owl may exist.

Literature records: Jebel Hamrin, Tekrit, ruins of Babylon, Shahroban, Sulemania, Mosul [1], near Khazr River and Aski Kalak [3], Kurkuk, Samarra, and Baghdad [9], and arid steppes of wadi Al-Tharthar in Central Iraq [10].

Recent records: Zraran, Peramagroon Mountain, and QaraDagh Mountain. Syria

Status: Breeding resident. It occurs in small numbers and is considered rare. It is found in open arid and semi-arid areas devoid of dense trees and often roosts on large rocks or caves. Careful identification is required for birds in the Al-Badia of Central Syria as an overlap with Pharaoh Eagle Owl may exist.

Literature records: 15 km SE of Al-Qaryatein [25], Hamama [26], Dura Europus [27], Palmyra [28, 29], 3 km SW Jelleen, es-Salihiyyeh, Qatana, Qal'at Najim, Mesiaf, Tell Mardiekh (Shehab and Johnson 2009), and Jabal Abd Al-Aziz [30].

#### **Figure 19.** *Distribution of Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo in Iraq and Syria.*

Recent records: Jabal Al-Bishri, Halbon, Feidhat Ibn Muwyin'e, and 5 km S ar-Rasafah (**Figure 20**).
