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Difference between revisions of "Little Owl" - BirdForum Opus

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{{Incomplete}}
 
 
[[Image:Little_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigelblake|nigelblake}}]]
 
[[Image:Little_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigelblake|nigelblake}}]]
 
;[[:Category:Athene|Athene]] noctua
 
;[[:Category:Athene|Athene]] noctua
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
Back and wings are a deep grey-brown, spotted with white. The underside is white with broad, broken streaks of grey-brown.
+
21–23 cm (8¼-9 in)
 +
*Back and wings are a deep grey-brown, spotted with white
 +
*Underparts white with broad, broken streaks of grey-brown
 +
*Brown cheeks
 +
*Yellow eyes
 +
*Whitish supercilia
 +
*White throat
 +
[[Image:IMG 3344 1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|speirs2|speirs2}}<br />[[Suffolk]], [[UK]], June 2009]]
 +
==Distribution==
 +
The commonest of the smaller owls and widespread in [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]] east to the Urals and Caspian, in the north reaching [[Denmark]] and the southern shores of the [[Baltic States|Baltic]]. Introduced to [[Britain]] and now established north to southern [[Scotland]]. Occurs virtually all around the Mediterranean and on most islands, throughout the Caucasus and [[Turkey]], south to [[Iraq]] and parts of the [[Middle East]]. Also found throughout North-West [[Africa]] and much of central and southern [[Algeria]], coastal [[Libya]] and at scattered oases in the interior, the Tibesti region of [[Chad]] and in the Nile Valley. Has bred in southern [[Sweden]] and possibly on the [[Balearics]].
  
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The face is marked by dark areas around the yellow eyes.  
+
Resident throughout range with short-distance dispersal of juveniles.
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==Distribution==
+
 
−
[[Europe]]
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'''Vagrants''' recorded in [[Ireland]], Fenno-Scandia, [[Estonia]] and on [[Malta]] and the [[Canary Islands]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Lilith Owlet (''Athene lilith'') has been separated as a full species by some authorities<sup>[[#References|[5]]]</sup> based on both vocalizations and DNA studies.
 +
[[Image:Lilith_Owlet_by_peterarras.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''lilith'', "Lilith Owlet"<br />Photo by {{user|peterarras|peterarras}}<br />Near Al Ain, [[United Arab Emirates]], May 2007]]
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
Several races occur in the region differing slightly in size, ground colour and markings but there is much intergradation.
 +
*Nominate ''noctua'' is found over much of southern [[Europe]] from [[Corsica]] and [[Sardinia]] east to the Carpathians.
 +
*Race ''indigena'' from South-East Europe, southern [[Russia]], [[Turkey]] to the Caucasus and in the [[Middle East]] is paler and more russet above.
 +
*The west European ''vidalii'' is the darkest race, colder brown above, and occurs from [[Iberia]] to [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]] and also introduced to [[Britain]].
 +
*Paler races occur further south with ''glaux'' from North [[Africa]] to southern [[Israel]] rather rufous above and variable
 +
*''saharae'' from more inland areas of North Africa which can be rufous, sandy or greyish and
 +
*''bactriana'' from the south-east of Region in Azerbaijan resembles ''indigena'' but paler.
 +
*Arabian race ''lilith'' is the palest, very pale buff above and barely streaked below. <br />
 +
[[Image:MG 53971.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|DAVEEFCBROWN|DAVEEFCBROWN}}<br />Lunt meadows, Liverpool, [[Lancashire]], July 2016]]
 +
 +
Additional subspecies included in Clements<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 +
*''A. n. spilogastra'':
 +
:*Red Sea coast of eastern [[Sudan]] and northern [[Ethiopia]]
 +
*''A. n. somaliensis'':
 +
:*Eastern [[Ethiopia]] and [[Somalia]]
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*''A. n. orientalis'':
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:*Extreme north-western [[China]] and adjacent [[Siberia]]
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*''A. n. impasta'':
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:*West-central [[China]] (Kokonor and western Gansu)
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*''A. n. ludlowi'':
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:*South-central [[China]] and [[Tibet]] to northern [[Himalayas]]
 +
*''A. n. plumipes'':
 +
:*North-eastern [[China]], [[Mongolia]] and Ussuriland
 +
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Farmland with hedgerows, copses and scattered trees, also rocky hillsides and semi-deserts. Particularly fond of old orchards and pollarded trees affording nest holes.
 
Farmland with hedgerows, copses and scattered trees, also rocky hillsides and semi-deserts. Particularly fond of old orchards and pollarded trees affording nest holes.
−
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
Little owls have often sit sunning themselves in early mornings or late evenings, particularly during cold weather. This is often the best chance of seeing them.
 +
====Diet====
 
Diet includes small mammals, such as mice, voles, shrews, even small rabbits, as well as insects, earthworms, snails, slugs and small fish.
 
Diet includes small mammals, such as mice, voles, shrews, even small rabbits, as well as insects, earthworms, snails, slugs and small fish.
−
 
+
====Breeding====
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They nest in tree holes, pollarded willows, walls of old buildings, rabbit burrows and cliff holes. The female lays 3-5 eggs in early May and incubates the eggs for 29 days. Only the male feeds the chicks at first, but later the female helps. After 26 days, the chicks leave the nest.
+
The nest is in a hole (tree, walls, old buildings, rabbit burrows or cliffs). Incubation of the 3-5 eggs starts in early May and takes 29 days. Initially the male is solely responsible for feeding the chicks, later joined by the female. The chicks fledge after 26 days
−
 
 
−
Little owls have often sit sunning themselves in early mornings or late evenings, particularly during cold weather. This is often the best chance of seeing them.
 
−
 
 
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
<flashmp3>Athene noctua (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Athene noctua (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Athene noctua (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Athene noctua (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Wikipedia
 +
#BBC Science & Nature
 +
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 +
#König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Athene+noctua}}  
 
{{GSearch|Athene+noctua}}  

Revision as of 00:43, 5 December 2017

Photo by nigelblake
Athene noctua

Identification

21–23 cm (8¼-9 in)

  • Back and wings are a deep grey-brown, spotted with white
  • Underparts white with broad, broken streaks of grey-brown
  • Brown cheeks
  • Yellow eyes
  • Whitish supercilia
  • White throat
Photo by speirs2
Suffolk, UK, June 2009

Distribution

The commonest of the smaller owls and widespread in Europe from Iberia east to the Urals and Caspian, in the north reaching Denmark and the southern shores of the Baltic. Introduced to Britain and now established north to southern Scotland. Occurs virtually all around the Mediterranean and on most islands, throughout the Caucasus and Turkey, south to Iraq and parts of the Middle East. Also found throughout North-West Africa and much of central and southern Algeria, coastal Libya and at scattered oases in the interior, the Tibesti region of Chad and in the Nile Valley. Has bred in southern Sweden and possibly on the Balearics.

Resident throughout range with short-distance dispersal of juveniles.

Vagrants recorded in Ireland, Fenno-Scandia, Estonia and on Malta and the Canary Islands.

Taxonomy

Lilith Owlet (Athene lilith) has been separated as a full species by some authorities[5] based on both vocalizations and DNA studies.

Subspecies lilith, "Lilith Owlet"
Photo by peterarras
Near Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, May 2007

Subspecies

Several races occur in the region differing slightly in size, ground colour and markings but there is much intergradation.

  • Nominate noctua is found over much of southern Europe from Corsica and Sardinia east to the Carpathians.
  • Race indigena from South-East Europe, southern Russia, Turkey to the Caucasus and in the Middle East is paler and more russet above.
  • The west European vidalii is the darkest race, colder brown above, and occurs from Iberia to Poland and the Baltic States and also introduced to Britain.
  • Paler races occur further south with glaux from North Africa to southern Israel rather rufous above and variable
  • saharae from more inland areas of North Africa which can be rufous, sandy or greyish and
  • bactriana from the south-east of Region in Azerbaijan resembles indigena but paler.
  • Arabian race lilith is the palest, very pale buff above and barely streaked below.
Juvenile
Photo by DAVEEFCBROWN
Lunt meadows, Liverpool, Lancashire, July 2016

Additional subspecies included in Clements[1]:

  • A. n. spilogastra:
  • A. n. somaliensis:
  • A. n. orientalis:
  • A. n. impasta:
  • West-central China (Kokonor and western Gansu)
  • A. n. ludlowi:
  • A. n. plumipes:

Habitat

Farmland with hedgerows, copses and scattered trees, also rocky hillsides and semi-deserts. Particularly fond of old orchards and pollarded trees affording nest holes.

Behaviour

Little owls have often sit sunning themselves in early mornings or late evenings, particularly during cold weather. This is often the best chance of seeing them.

Diet

Diet includes small mammals, such as mice, voles, shrews, even small rabbits, as well as insects, earthworms, snails, slugs and small fish.

Breeding

The nest is in a hole (tree, walls, old buildings, rabbit burrows or cliffs). Incubation of the 3-5 eggs starts in early May and takes 29 days. Initially the male is solely responsible for feeding the chicks, later joined by the female. The chicks fledge after 26 days

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Athene noctua (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Wikipedia
  3. BBC Science & Nature
  4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  5. König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2

Recommended Citation

External Links


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