Short-eared owl Jan 28, 2025

Short-eared owl

The short-eared owl, featured in today"s image, is a grassland-dwelling member of the owl family. Found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia, it"s one of the most widely distributed bird species. In India, it can be spotted in the open grasslands and vast stretches of the Little Rann of Kutch, as well as the surrounding desert landscape. This raptor belongs to the genus Asio, whose members are characterised by feather tufts ("ears") on their heads. The short-eared owl only reveals its tufts when feeling defensive.

© Dilshan Muthalib/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

When life imitates art
Jan 28, 2024Channel Country, Australia
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand

More Desktop Wallpapers:

The world’s greatest oasis?
Where the rainbow ends
Dec 31, 2025New Years Eve
Apr 9, 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring
Jun 29, 2024Tour de France 2024
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth in New Braunfels, Texas, United States
Incan ingenuity
Jun 25, 2025Glastonbury Festival begins
The ancient home of the Minoans
Nature’s own canvas
Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Colours of Colorado
Where the humpback whale sings
Where history comes alive
Apr 3, 2025Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Feb 1, 2025European beech forest, Belgium
Sep 1, 2024River Thames, London, England
Mar 21, 2024International Day of Forests
Jun 14, 2024Peggys Cove Lighthouse, Canada
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
Celebrating Guru Nanak Gurpurab
Sep 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
Dec 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
Jul 29, 2024International Tiger Day
When being in a rut is OK
Jan 27, 2024Northern hawk owl
Oct 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Nov 17, 2024Red deer stag in Glen Affric, Scotland
Jun 26, 2024Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone