Little Owls

[Farplace]

I've not seen our local little owls recently. 2 questions: Do they migrate (even if they stay in the uk - do they move south??) and What do they eat in winter, when they can't get earthworms and suchlikes?

[rogpow]

According to one source I have (B.P.Martin - Birds of Prey of the British Isles) Little Owls are very sedentary, and usually roost at or near their nest in the winter, although some wander further afield outside the breeding season. Only 2% of British ringed birds were found over 100km from where they were ringed. Because of this, they are significantly affected by severe winter weather as they are more likely to starve to death than move.
Its usual diet is rodents and invertebrates, including beetles,earwigs, earthworms, snails etc. and birds during the breeding season.

[faz]

hi annie no they dont migrate and as rogpow says as well as inverts they will take small birds /rodents more so in the winter

[htcdude]

As they've said above, they stay home for Christmas

I'm going to see my local ones in the New Year

Nige