The Long-eared owl is one of the most widely distributed and most numerous owl species in the world. It is a rather slim and long-winged bird with usually prominent erectile ear tufts, which are positioned closer to the center of the head than in many other types of owl. Long-eared owls prefer open landscapes with groups of trees, hedges or small woods, as well as pastureland with rows of trees and bushes, any type of forest with clearings, forest edges, semi-open taiga forest, swampy areas and bogs, orchards with old fruit trees, parks, even gardens and timbered areas in villages, towns or cities. In many parts of the world, Long-eared owls have even adapted to deserts, though more commonly semi-desert, and may nest and roost in available oases and hunt prey over the open desert ground. This particular specimen has been mounted in a correctly stylised fashion. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Long-Eared Owl is a rather slim, long-winged bird with prominent erectile ear tufts. The coloration of this Long-eared Owl is a hue of ochraceous-tawny with a brownish wash. The wings, back and chest are patterned and the facial disc is visibly well developed and light brown in colour. The ear tufts are dusky in front and darter tawny on the back. This Long-eared owl possesses a light-coloured bill and its eyes are yellowish-orange. The specimen stands upon a wooden platform. Swing tag: 33 / Virginian / Bee-boo Owl / Catalogue, page 52 / Other tag: No 19 / STRIX Virginian / N. America / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, owl, long-eared owl

Ural Owls are one of the largest nocturnal birds of prey and are distributed across Northern hemisphere land masses from Scandinavia in the west, across Russia and China to Japan in the east. They average between 500-640mm in length, have large ears, a very long tail, and wing spans up to 1340mm. Ural Owls display reverse sexual dimorphism. They have a range of calls and sounds that vary between regions and among subspecies. Ural Owls prefer mature primary forest habitats that are not too dense, but adapt to a range of environments, including damp heathland and high elevation mountain forests. The species is considered nocturnal but may be more correctly described as ‘cathemeral’, due to frequent daylight activity in the taiga zone. Ural Owls are non-migratory and highly territorial. They prefer to hunt from a perch into open areas of forest, seeking small mammal prey, such as voles, as well as birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. Ural Owls have a broad, rounded head and a well-developed round facial disc with a small V-shaped indentation. They tend to be plain greyish-brown to whitish overall, though some subspecies display darker colour variation. The underparts are pale cream to grey-brown and boldly overlaid with dark brown streaking. Ural Owls lack the richer colour tones of other Strix owls. Their flight style gives the appearance of a large bird. The eyes are dark brown and relatively small, and the bill is yellowish. Tarsi and toes are feathered grey and the talons are yellowish brown with darker tips. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. This Ural Owl is an average sized specimen with a broad, rounded head and characteristic V-shaped facial marking between the eyes. Overall plumage is plain and consistent in colour and pattern, with white, brown and grey streaks. The eyes are large and the bill is small and yellow. This specimen stands on a wooden perch with identification tags attached to its leg.Swing tag: Strix noctua / Athene noctua, [illegible] / near leiden / 26 Mai 1860. / Holland / Other tag: N38 / Strix noctua / Holland. / Metal tag: 4062 /taxidermy, taxidermy mount, burke museum, australian museum, owls, birds of prey, heart-shaped faced owl, nocturnal birds, predator birds, carnivore, territorial owl, animalia, large owl, long-tailed owls, ural mountains, taiga zone owls, cathemeral, monogamous, iucn red list, strix, wood owl, attacking owl, long-tailed owl, large-eared owl, owls with facial disc