Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Little Owl
Scientific Name:
Athene noctua
Common Family:
Owls
Scientific Family:
Strigidae
Length:
21-23 cm
Wingspan (mm):
54-58 cm
Lifespan:
3-10 years Description
Small with large rounded head and short tail. Brown above with speckled brown and white breast.Little owls have very striking Yellow eyes the female is larger than the male.
Distribution
All over the UK and southern Scotland in small populations. And common in Europe.
Habitat
Farmland,Woodland,Towns and Gardens local parks,and Heathland.
Diet
It feeds on mice, small birds, which it sometimes catches on the roost, bats, frogs, beetles, moths, caterpillars, and insects generally.
Behaviour
little owl is diurnal, It's often seen perched on telegraph poles, on branches in old trees in parkland or along hedgerows, or on rocks, from where it quietly scans the ground for prey.
Reproduction
Little owls will nest in old tree hole, nest box. Or even on the ground in an old rabbit burrow.3-5 white eggs are laid in April any where from 29 31 days to incubate the eggs. The young will fledge 37 41 days 1-2 clutches per season.
Population
5,800-11,600 pairs.
Did You Know?
Little Owls were originally used by people in the late 1800’s as cockroach hunters in their kitchens.A group of owls is called a parliament.
The little owl is The smallest owl in Britain.
All the little owls Britain all originated from just 18 which were released in England in 1888.