Short-eared owls occur over much of the Northern Hemisphere but also in South America. They prefer open habitats as heaths and overgrown farmland. They hunt mostly at dusk and in the morning, and are thus more diurnal than many other owls. They lay their nests directly on the ground. On the Galapagos a branch of the species has established itself and has become a separate subspecies: 'Asio flammeus galapagoensis'. (Canon EOS 1D X, Canon EF 70-300/4-5.6L IS USM).