shorteared

Shorteared is an English compound adjective used in biology and zoology to describe animals with relatively small ears for their size, a trait that often appears in common names for species. The spelling is frequently hyphenated as short-eared; some sources may render it as a single word, especially in informal writing.

In taxonomy and field guides, short ears are noted as a morphological trait that can relate to habitat, behavior, or phylogeny. The functional significance of shorter ears varies among groups: in some animals, reduced ear size may influence thermoregulation or concealment, while in others it may reflect a specialization in other sensory systems. In birds, external ears are not visible as such, so the term typically references the surrounding facial region, ear openings, or ear tufts in comparison with related species. In mammals, including bats and small terrestrial species, the descriptor often indicates a noticeably smaller external ear relative to close relatives.

The best-known example of the term’s use is the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), a medium-sized nocturnal bird of prey found in open habitats across parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Its common name underscores the modest appearance of its ear region rather than any large, conspicuous ear tufts. Other regional or species-level uses of the term describe animals with ears that are proportionally shorter or flatter against the head.

Overall, short-eared is a descriptive, non-taxonomic label. When encountered in species descriptions, it signals a morphological characteristic used for quick, practical identification and comparison in field guides and checklists.