The Short-eared Owl nests on the ground in open terrain and thereby differs from the hole-nesting woodland owls.
Nest site: a simple scrape directly on the ground, preferably hidden in a tussock or among heather on bogs, heaths and overgrown farmland.
Base: the nest is sparsely lined with grass stems and lacks the raised structures many other owls use.
Breeding: usually 4–8 eggs, but in good vole years the clutch can be considerably larger, and the female incubates alone for 26–29 days while the male hunts.
The young leave the nest and disperse into the vegetation before they can fly, which reduces the risk of losing the whole brood at once.