Little Owl, Cyprus (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

Can anyone tell me if more than one race occurs on Cyprus, otherwise this is race indigena?

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Could she be the subspecies lilith ?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Many thanks both.

 

[Maffong]

It looks surprisingly dark in the pictures for ssp. lilith

 

[MJB]

Can anyone tell me if more than one race occurs on Cyprus, otherwise this is race Indigena?

There are possibly two populations in Cyprus: paler birds in the semi-open scrubby and hilly areas, and darker birds nearer the coasts (My personal observations, which may not necessarily be repeatable!). I say 'possibly', because little widespread work has been done with any kind of idea of differing populations in mind. As to subspecies, relatively few across the species' entire distribution have been solidly researched as to distribution limits, intergrading extent or to plumage variation, whether within or across these unmapped populations, or indeed how much individual variation occurs.

The most telling paper so far published, Pellegrino et al 2020, found in a study of 282 skins from across the Extended Western Palearctic, an absence of clear-cut differences between sspp and a huge variation of morphological and colour patterns between individuals collected within any geographical area; no ssp could safely be identified on morphological data. Furthermore, the geographic distributions allotted to most subspecies are now suspect, as are sspp IDs.

The arrangement of 'sspp' in the OSME Region List is perhaps a reasonable 'finger in the wind' breakdown of possible sspps, based on pre-Pellegrino et al 2020 information, but we make it plain that the conclusions of Irene Pellegrino and her team make every listed taxon suspect.

I hope that helps!
MJB
Pellegrino, I, M Cucco, E Calà, G Boano and M Pavia. 2020. Plumage coloration and morphometrics of the Little Owl Athene noctua in the Western Palearctic. J. Orn. pp11 doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01792-7

 

[Andy Adcock]

Many thanks for this MJB, none of this appears in the book where only the nominate and indigena are covered, not even that really. A descriptinin of indigena is given, leading to the presumption that the distinction is from the nominate.

Regarding habitat, I'm in both 'semi-open scrubby and hilly areas' and, at the coast!

 

[Steve Lister]

Regarding habitat, I'm in both 'semi-open scrubby and hilly areas' and, at the coast!

Just out of interest Andy, whereabouts are you living?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Just out of interest Andy, whereabouts are you living?

Pissouri, between Paphos and Limassol.

 

[PYRTLE]

Pissouri, between Paphos and Limassol.

Keep an eye on that wet area near you, had a White tailed Plover a few years back, found by a passer by.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Keep an eye on that wet area near you, had a White tailed Plover a few years back, found by a passer by.

Thanks Pat, do you refer to the area that occasionally floods in the corner of a field across the road from a few houses? That's the only wet area I've found so far.

 

[PYRTLE]

Thanks Pat, do you refer to the area that occasionally floods in the corner of a field across the road from a few houses? That's the only wet area I've found so far.

Not sure, just remember it was a shallow area that dried up in late Spring, you are very well placed for many reasons.

 

[Steve Lister]

Sounds good - away from the main touristy bits but handy for Asprokremnos Dam (excellent site or at least it was when I visited the island regularly) and Akrotiri salt-lake etc.

My best-ever Cypriot meze was in a Pissouri restaurant about 20 years ago. They kept bringing plates of food until we could literally eat no more.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Sounds good - away from the main touristy bits but handy for Asprokremnos Dam (excellent site or at least it was when I visited the island regularly) and Akrotiri salt-lake etc.

My best-ever Cypriot meze was in a Pissouri restaurant about 20 years ago. They kept bringing plates of food until we could literally eat no more.

had Eleonoras' close to the house and Black Francolin, a WP tick for me, is often visible from the garden whilst Laughing Dove, another WP tick, is often in, the garden.

I took my toddler out for lunch yesterday and the portions for a child were obscene, far too much and they charged us 50 Euros for a salad, a mixed grill and a child portion of callimari............

 

[ApusApus]

had Eleonoras' close to the house and Black Francolin, a WP tick for me, is often visible from the garden whilst Laughing Dove, another WP tick, is often in, the garden.

I took my toddler out for lunch yesterday and the portions for a child were obscene, far too much and they charged us 50 Euros for a salad, a mixed grill and a child portion of callimari............

I'd find another restaurant if I were you! 😲


Shane

 

[dantheman]

I'd find another restaurant if I were you! 😲


Shane

Has member @cafe birder seen this thread yet?

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'd find another restaurant if I were you! 😲


Shane

I was here in the 80's and it wasn't cheap then but most things I find expensive here, especially if you want the familiar things from home i.e this, £5 in the UK is over 13 Euros here

https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/iceland-30-breaded-cod-fillet-fish-fingers-900g/87528.html#start=1

It's the same with butter and margerine and all the staples, this is where we shop, supposedly the cheapest place, minimum 100 Euro spend to get a delivery which by the way, is the same as our Indian takeaway!

Papantoniou Supermarkets

Papantoniou Supermarkets

www.papantoniou.com.cy