Little Owls and when to hear them.

[Deb London]

I've had a possible sighting of a Little Owl here. I heard a while back from someone in authority that they are/were in the area. It's improbable that I will see one again and unlikely that I will have bins with me at the time.

I'd like to back up this sighting by listening for their calls. When should I listen for their song/calls (what time of year, what time of day or night)? Is there any other advice for tracking them down/identifying them by sound that I should know about.

Thanks in advance.

Deb

[metalfish]

Hi Deb,

We have little owls here where I work and I rarely see them but they do leave pellets on the fence where they like to sit. It's about 4 ish cenitimetres long and full of broken up bits of beetle shell.
It looks a bit like a piece of dried up dog poo (sorry about bringing that image into your mind!) but in an unlikely place like on top of a fence post- unless the dog is a gymnast!

Fraid I can't help on the call though.

[Deb London]

Ah, interesting, metalfish. Good photo, thanks for the tip. And if I don't hear anything, I can try a nice game of "I Spy" with myself instead.

I spy blah blah something beginning with "P".

(Pellet )

[Black Tern]

Now is a good time to listen for Little Owls. The young are dispersing and establishing new territories. They can often be heard at dawn or very early in the morning at this time of year but not exclusively now. The sound can sometimes sound what I can only describe as blood-curdling, like a small mammal screaming for it's life, although it doesn't sound so bad in this example.

See this link to hear their sound. Scroll down to "vocalisations".

Little Owl - BirdForum Opus

[RoyW]

Little Owls are most active around dawn and dusk, so this is the best time of day to listen (or look) for them. Like most birds they are most vocal when they want to advertise their territory, and for Little Owls this is mainly late in the autumn (October/November - presumably when young birds are trying to establish territories), and late winter/early spring before breeding.

It is worth checking likely areas during daylight, because they are often active, or at least visible, during the day. They usually choose old trees with natural cavities/hollows in, or holes in buildings, for breeding, and caereful scanning of suitable trees etc may reveal one during the day (if it is a windy day they often sit somewhere where they are sheltered by the trunk or a large branch).

Good luck!


Edit: Yeah, pretty much what Balck Tern posted while I was typing!

[Deb London]

Thank you both ever so much for all the help and information. I can't wait to go hunting now.

[darylp]

Deb

Ive just recently found a nestbox which is home to little owls and they have had a successful brood this year. They are great to watch as they are diurnal (tend to appear duing the day ). There is a website with information about the UK owl pops, and it has wmv files of various little owl calls, cant remember what it is off the top of my head, however a bit of clever googling will get you there.

enjoy

daryl

[Deb London]

Thank you daryl
Ohhh, I wish I could put up a nest box, but I don't own the land.