Barn owl chick. Barn owl. Feeding and feeding behavior

An owl is a bird of prey, belongs to the order of owls (Strigiformes or Striges), in which 2 families are distinguished:

owls or true owls (these include the genera of the tawny owl, owls, long-eared owls and scops)
barn owls (these include the genus barn owl and the genus mask barn owl)

The paws of an owl are very strong and grasping, in many species they are feathered. owl claws sharp and curved, they help her to quickly grab the victim and hold it. The flight of an owl is almost silent, this is due to the special structure of the feathers. The first outer feathers are sawtooth and fringedly serrated. The third and fourth feathers of an owl are longer than the rest. The tail is rounded and clipped, and the tail feathers are bent. The wingspan of an owl is about 142-200 centimeters. These birds fly very fast: the speed of an owl in flight reaches 80 km / h.

The bird makes a characteristic clicking sound when irritated or excited. It turns out this is due to her beak. The beak of an owl is bent from the beginning to the very base, ends with a hook, the edges are even and without cuts.

Owls can turn their heads 180 and even 270 degrees without causing themselves any inconvenience or harm. The owl bird is a predator, and it needs to track down prey, so the eyes are not located on the sides, but in front.

The eyes of an owl are motionless and look only straight ahead. To change the direction of the gaze, the bird needs to turn its head. At the same time, the owl's field of view is 160 degrees, and its vision is binocular, unlike other birds. Owls see the world in black and white. The lens of owls is not in the eyeball, but in the horn tube, so the birds see perfectly at night.

An owl's hearing is 4 times better than a cat's. As soon as the prey betrays itself with a rustle or sound, the bird rushes at it with lightning speed.

Types of owls, names and photos

In the owl family, 3 subfamilies, 30 genera and 214 species are distinguished, the most common of which are:

long-eared owl (Asio otus)

The bird has a length of 31-36 centimeters. The wingspan reaches 86-98 cm. The color of this species of owl is dominated by a gray-brown hue with variegated spots, the chest is white. On the upper side of the body are dark spots, transverse stripes stand out on the underside. On the head of a long-eared owl are large ear tufts, which consist of six feathers.

Lives in coniferous forests, prefers nesting places European countries or the north of Asia, flies to the north of Africa for wintering. The long-eared owl feeds on rodents, mice, voles, insects and birds.

Great Owl ( Strix nebulosa)

A large bird with a length of 80 cm and a wingspan of 1.5 meters. The big-headed bird has a smoky gray color. There are dark stripes around the yellow eyes of an owl.

The owl feeds on rodents and squirrels. For nesting, it chooses the nests of hawks and buzzards; it does not build nests itself. The black spot under the bird's beak looks like a beard, hence the name of the bird. The bird does not have feather ears; a white collar is located on the neck. The underside of the wings hides dark stripes.

The gray owl lives in the zone of taiga and mountain forests in the Baltic countries, in the European part of Russia, in Siberia, on Sakhalin, in Mongolia.

Owl ( Bubo bubo)

It has a length of 60-75 cm, a wingspan of 160-190 cm. The weight of a male owl reaches 2.1-2.7 kg, the weight of females is 3-3.2 kg. The eagle owl is the largest bird in the owl order. The plumage of the predator is dominated by reddish and ocher colors, the owl's eyes are bright orange, and there are bunches of elongated feathers above the eyes.

Eagle owls live in the forests and steppes of Eurasia, prey on rodents, mice, crows, hedgehogs, hares, birds and other vertebrates.

Sparrow Owl ( Glaucidium passerinum)

The body length of the owl is 15-19 cm, the wingspan reaches 35-40 cm. The weight reaches 55-80 g. At the same time, males are smaller than females. The color of the owl has a gray-brown or dark brown color, white mottles are clearly distinguished on the feathers, larger on the back and small on the head. The bottom of the bird has a white color with longitudinal stripes of a brown hue. The tail is grey-brown with 5 narrow stripes. The head is small and has a round and slightly flattened shape; the owl has no ears. Around the eyes of the pygmy owl are white and brown rings. The eyes of the bird are yellow, there are white eyebrows above the eyes. The claws of the pygmy owl are black or yellow in color. The paws are fully feathered, down to the claws.

Little owl ( Athene noctua)

A small bird with a length of 25 cm and a weight of about 150-170 g. The color of the plumage of females and males is the same. The back of the bird has a light brown or sand color. Brown longitudinal variegated spots stand out on the white belly of the owl. Round white spots are located on the shoulder feathers.

The little owl lives in the south and in the center of Europe, in the north of Africa and in the southern Asian countries. In Russia, the owl is found mainly in the center and south of the European part, in the Southern Altai and Transbaikalia. Birds live in steppe and desert areas, build nests in stones and burrows. The little owl feeds on insects, lizards, rodents, and sometimes birds.

barn owl (Tyto alba)

It differs from other species of owls in its heart-shaped facial disc. The length of the barn owl reaches 34-39 centimeters with a wingspan of 80-95 cm. The weight of a bird of prey is 190-700 grams. The color of the barn owl is red with numerous transverse mottles, stripes and specks. In this case, the color depends on the habitat of the bird. The tail of the bird is short. The barn owl's ears have an unusual asymmetrical arrangement: if the left one is at the level of the forehead, then the right one approaches the nostrils. Thanks to this feature, the bird hears very well.

Barn owl lives on all continents, except for cold Antarctica. In Russia, lives only on the territory of the Kaliningrad region.

Snowy owl (snowy owl) ( Bubo scandiacus, Nyctea scandiaca)

It has a body length of 55 to 70 cm, the weight of the bird is 2-3 kg. The wingspan reaches 143-166 cm. The color of the bird that lives in the tundra zone serves as a disguise for it, so white colors with dark spots predominate in it. The beak of the snowy owl is black, the eyes are bright yellow. The paws of the predator are completely pubescent.

The polar owl lives in Eurasia, North America, Greenland, on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. The snowy owl feeds on rodents, lemmings, hares, ermines, ptarmigans, geese, ducks, and fish. White owls are listed in the Red Book.

hawk owl ( Surnia ulula)

It lives in forest regions in Europe, North America and Asia. In Russia, it is found in Kamchatka, in the Magadan region, in Chukotka, on the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk. It feeds on rodents (mice, lemmings, voles), sometimes preys on squirrels, hazel grouse, black grouse, partridges and other birds.

The length of the bird reaches 45 cm. The tail of the bird is long, the color is brown-brown with white spots, thin stripes are located at the bottom of the body. The eyes and beak of the hawk owl are yellow.

Where do owls live?

Owls live all over the world, not only in Antarctica. 17 species of owls live in Russia. A large number of these birds can be found in forests, and only a few of them live in open areas.

Basically, the owl lives in hollows and nests. The eagle owl finds a home almost everywhere: in forests, mountains, steppes and deserts. The long-eared owl lives in all kinds of fields, as it hunts in open areas, but it creates its nests only in the forest. The white owl lives in the tundra, flies far to the south in winter, does not like wooded places. The Great Gray Owl lives only in dense taiga forests. Owl species such as barn owl and little owl find a home under roofs and in attics.

What does an owl eat?

The question of what an owl bird eats in nature is of interest to many people. This bird is like natural environment habitation, and in captivity eats rodents, small birds, insects, animals. The diet depends on the habitat of the owl. Owls of medium to large size feed on rats, mice, lemmings, hedgehogs, lizards, shrews, hares, frogs, toads, bats, moles, snakes, chickens. Little owls eat mainly insects (beetles, grasshoppers), and birds living in coastal areas eat fish, crabs and mussels. Owls living in tropical countries eat fruits, plants and berries. An owl bird can live for several months without water, quenching its thirst with the blood of its victims.

Owl breeding

Owls form monogamous pairs. A pair of owls do not build their nest, they occupy crevices, hollows or nests abandoned by other birds. Short-eared owls build nests on the ground in dense vegetation. Owls can breed one or more times a year, it all depends on the amount of food in the habitat. A clutch may contain from 3 to 10 eggs. Owl eggs are white, spherical and relatively small. The female owl incubates the eggs. The male owl is involved in feeding the offspring. Very often chicks live in the nest different ages. Parents feed all offspring, but most of them are given to older owlets. Older owl chicks, with a lack of food, can even eat their younger brothers.

There are also some difficulties with the nutrition of an owl, the digestive system of this bird is designed in such a way that it needs to eat a whole carcass of a mouse or a bird. It is logical that meat feeding is eliminated, get ready for the purchase of mice.

Also pay Special attention choosing the type of owl, a long-eared or short-eared owl is suitable for a standard city apartment. There will be little space for owls and owls, even if you have a wide apartment or house.

What is the difference between an owl and an owl?

The eagle owl is a bird of prey from the order of owls, the owl family. Belongs to the genus owl. This bird differs from other species of owls in its appearance. Firstly, the eagle owl has the largest size compared to other owls. The eagle owl's head is quite large and has characteristic features: in the area of the auditory openings there are short hard feathers resembling auricles. The eagle owl has a characteristic color of feathers, a reddish-fawn color. Clear dark stripes flaunt on the head and back.

Secondly, unlike many species of owls that hunt only at night, the eagle owl is a diurnal bird and sees well during the day.

The prey of owls are mainly small rodents and insects, while the eagle owl preys on pheasants, hares and young roe deer. This type of prey lives mainly in the steppe zone. In such places it is convenient for the eagle owl to go hunting because of the large wingspan.

The call of an owl serves the bird for various purposes. There is a call similar to a dialogue taking place between two males. There is a calling cry during the mating season. Little owls make a sound to indicate their location.
In ancient times, owls were feared, they were considered a bad sign, associated with mystical events, so these birds were persecuted.
In Egypt, owls were treated with care, respect, and even mummified.
A Babylonian bas-relief was found, which depicts owls: they are on the sides, and in the center is a woman with owl wings and paws. It is believed that this is one of the goddesses, and owls are her guards or companions. In addition to the dark and mystical symbol, the owl was a symbol of the mind and wisdom.
In Christianity, the cry of an owl was considered a song of death. It symbolized desolation, loneliness, sorrow and solitude. For the Slavs, the owl bird was the keeper of underground treasures, a sign of a widow and foreshadowed a fire or death, an owl was ranked among demonic and unclean forces.

The barn owl is a member of the barn owl family. Predator, although not very large. People gave her several nicknames, which is reflected in folk art. For example: a screeching or ghostly owl, a night owl, a “bird with a monkey face” and others. Indeed, in the guise of this there is something similar to a primate.

Features and habitat

Scientists ornithologists have not ranked barn owls as certain group, and decided to allocate a separate category for them. barn owl- the most common species, and today it lives virtually everywhere except Antarctica and a number of areas North America and Canada, as well as in hot Africa.

Despite the fact that this owl is a predator, its characteristics are the most common: length - 25-50cm, body weight - 200-800g. Wingspan - 80-95 cm. Females are larger than males by about 10%. The plumage is soft and fluffy. The upper body and head are usually dark gray or brown, and the entire body is speckled. The facial disc is white in the shape of a heart, which can immediately distinguish the barn owl from other owls. Belly, chest and muzzle - white, often with spots . The bird has a slender body, and dark pink fingers of an owl are crowned with black claws. The eyes are expressive, with an iris.

Since the body of the barn owl not prone to fat accumulation, low temperature is not for them. On the territory of the Russian Federation, barn owl can be found only in the Kaliningrad region. In mountainous regions at high altitudes and in arid African deserts, this owl does not live either. In the twentieth century the bird was specially brought to the Hawaiian, Canary and Seychelles, so now many varieties of barn owl live in this territory.

Most of all, the bird likes open plains with a sparse forest area and many swamps and other bodies of water nearby. Meadows, ravines and wastelands- also attracted in the first place. Often these night hunters settle near human habitations and farmlands, because there is always food here, in particular, small rodents.

The Australian or masked barn owl lives not only in Australia, but also in Tasmania, New South Wales and a number of other territories. Australian barn owls differ from other representatives of the species in their colorful appearance and dimensions: females are considered the largest in comparison with other species.

At present, the black bird is considered the least studied: its activity occurs in the dead of night and it is difficult to observe it. This owl settles mainly in thickets of eucalyptus forests, meadows and edges of New Guinea and eastern Australia.

The barn owl is called the "ghostly owl" because of its ability to abruptly appear in front of an unsuspecting person without the slightest sound. It is believed that the bird earned its name for a somewhat hoarse voice that can scare a traveler lost in the forest.

In addition to the ability to silently fly, the barn owl has developed vision and hearing, so it can perfectly navigate at night. In the daytime, the bird is in a hollow, on the roof, in another shelter. This owl prefers a solitary lifestyle, but in places rich in food, there are small clusters of birds.

Barn owl often circles its territory while changing height frequently. Seeing an intruder, she begins to move menacingly to intimidate him. Flapping its wings, the owl is able to attack the visitor with strong paws or a beak, which it snaps menacingly when attacked.

In the immediate vicinity of a person, a barn owl usually builds a nest in an attic, in a barn or in an outbuilding, but in the wild this predator can easily occupy someone else's nest or hole.

Nutrition

The predator usually hunts late at night. Being on the hunt, it flies low enough above the ground, looking for prey.

Its main food is small rodents.:

moles;
hamsters;
rats,
opossums;
mice-voles;
others.

But the diet varies depending on the region where the bird lives.. So, she can feast:

birds (even birds of prey);
frogs;
bats;
reptiles;
some invertebrates.

Barn owl is not the best pet. Firstly, the owl body is arranged in such a way that they need to eat at least three fresh rodents daily, so if you decide to shelter a barn owl, take note of this.

Secondly, the barn owl is nocturnal, which means that it is suitable as a pet only for people who prefer to stay awake at night.

Reproduction and lifespan

The breeding season lasts the first two months of spring. The male seeks out a place for the future nest. The nest must be hidden from the eyes of a person and other potential ill-wishers.

Usually, barn owl nests wind at a respectful height from the ground. For one clutch, the female gives 4-7 eggs, from which the chicks hatch in a month. After 1.5 months, the chicks become stronger and begin an independent life. About ¾ of young animals die in the first year of life, those who are more fortunate can live up to 11 years. Sometimes, even in captivity, barn owls lived to be several decades old.

During the nesting period of the barn owl make more sounds - shrill or hoarsely hoot and scream. Outside of the breeding season, birds are usually silent. To make noise, birds can flap their wings or snap their beaks.

conservation status

The bird is not considered an endangered species. However, a serious danger to this bird lies in the reduction in the number of usual nesting sites.

In Eastern Europe, for the last decades, it is not clear why, the number of barn owls has been catastrophically reduced. Representatives of the species are almost never found in Belarus and the Baltic countries, rarely catch the eye in Moldova and Ukraine.

The barn owl is listed in the Red Books of several Eastern European countries.

Benefits for a person

Owls often choose attics, outbuildings, ruins, bell towers. In English, the barn owl is called "barn owl", i.e. "barn owl". In cities, barn owls hunt mice and rats, since there is no shortage of these rodents in large settlements, our predator also has no shortage of food. In addition, the "urban" birds have perfectly learned to catch bats and nocturnal insects by the light of lanterns.

Barn owls and other owls have always been treated by people with superstitious fear, like other owls, they were considered a symbol of wisdom. Today superstitions are a thing of the past and people feel sympathy for this bird, because it fights rodents.

Barn owls are the most ancient branch of owls, as evidenced by fossils. Now they have been preserved only in the form of a small relic group.

The barn owl is an unusual species of owl found on all continents except Antarctica; however, in our country its range is limited only to the Kaliningrad region.

Habitat

Barn owls prefer open spaces, namely: meadows with tall grass, swamps and ravines, banks of water bodies and light forests. Avoids mountainous areas and dense forests.

Appearance

The barn owl is a relatively large bird, reaching 40 centimeters in size, its wingspan is slightly less than a meter. Bird weight 200 - 700 grams, mostly about 500 grams.

The color of the barn owl is white-red, with darker specks and stripes. The plumage of this bird is very dense, thanks to which it can live in the northern, rather cold regions.

barn owl bird photo

A striking feature that distinguishes the barn owl from other birds is that it is as if a white “mask” was put on its muzzle. The expression of this "mask" is such that some researchers have nicknamed the barn owl "the owl with the face of a monkey." The common names of the barn owl are also known:

Midnighter;
Ghost Owl;
Screeching owl.

barn owl in all its glory photo

These nicknames show that the barn owl was associated with something mystical in the old days. An eerie sensation is caused by the eyes of this owl, large and expressive.

Nutrition and lifestyle

Leads a solitary lifestyle, active at night. Like all owls, the barn owl is a predator. The basis of its diet is made up of small rodents - mice, voles, rats, gerbils, etc. Some certain types of edible animals predominate in a particular region. If necessary, the barn owl catches frogs, bats, lizards and invertebrates.

barn owl in flight photo

She flies out to hunt in the dark, and during the day she sleeps in a cozy nest, which is a hollow, hole, attic or other appropriate place. The barn owl does not build nests as such. Sometimes it occupies empty nests of other birds. Silent flight and extremely acute hearing help the barn owl to navigate the terrain and hunt.

barn owl hunting photo

The bird's eyesight is also strong, thanks to which it sees well in the dark. The barn owl grabs its prey on the fly with sharp claws and takes it somewhere to a convenient place where you can safely eat it.

reproduction

A place for a "family nest" is usually looking for a male. Usually this is a hollow, rotten stump or old nests of birds of prey. Having found one, he calls the female with a loud voice. After the formation of a family, she lays 4 - 6 eggs, and incubates them for a little over a month. All this time the male brings her food.

barn owl chicks photo

The chicks hatch covered in soft white down. The male and female feed their babies. They stay with their parents for another three months. They fledge at the age of 50 days, then fly away and look for a new place of residence.

The comparison with monkeys is explained not only appearance birds. When a barn owl sees an approaching person, it rises higher, stands on long legs and sways left and right on them, depicting various grimaces. So she tries to scare the uninvited guest. Why not a monkey? If a person gets too close, the barn owl usually flies away.
The habit of the barn owl is known - it silently approaches a person from behind and suddenly appears right in front of him. At this point, anyone will be frightened, especially if the meeting took place at dusk. knows how to click its beak loudly. All this only enhances the feeling of horror in an unprepared observer.

Lifespan

IN wild nature barn owl lives for about 2 years.

Class - Birds
Order - Owls
Family - barn owls
Genus - barn owls
View - barn owl

The barn owl (lat. Tyto alba) is a bird of prey of the barn owl family (Tytonidae) of the order Strigiformes, called the “white lady” for its unusual and mysterious appearance. Its snow-white facial disc has a heart shape, which distinguishes it from other owls.

The barn owl flies completely silently, outwardly resembling a real little white ghost, terrifying the helpless rodents in front of it. For this reason, European farmers love it very much. In Germany, on rooftops in countryside even special “birdhouses” are arranged for her, called eulenlochs (German: Eulenloch), which useful birds use with pleasure.

In the Middle Ages, it was customary to nail a stuffed bird on the front door.

It was believed that in this way you can protect yourself from fires and accidental lightning strikes. The cry of a barn owl was regarded as good news about the birth of a new little man, although in some regions it is still regarded as a harbinger of someone's death.

The European barn owl population currently numbers approximately 200,000 pairs.

Behavior

Barn owls are distributed on all continents with the exception of Antarctica. They prefer to settle in open spaces, moorlands and in fields where small rodents abound, which form the basis of their diet. In rural areas, these birds willingly settle near human dwellings, choosing the darkest nooks and crannies of various buildings for nesting, including abandoned buildings and dovecotes.

Barn owls are true patriots and are very attached to their native places.

Having settled, they drive away strangers with screams and fiercely defend their territory from any encroachment. They spend a lot of time cleaning their feathers and keeping their nest clean.

Barn owls fly out to hunt at dusk and hunt until dawn. They are especially active when the moon is bright. Their visual acuity is 100 times greater than that of a human. In addition, owls have unusually fine hearing, which allows them to find prey even in pitch darkness.

The menu of barn owls is dominated by various small rodents - mice, rats, and If there is not enough of the usual food, they begin to eat frogs, insects, reptiles and small birds. The predator silently flies up to the intended victim and falls on top of it like a stone, instantly killing with sharp claws. The prey is swallowed whole. An owl eats a particularly large trophy, pecking off a piece. Undigested remains (feathers, bones, wool and claws) she burps in the form of spools.

reproduction

Being monogamous birds, barn owls form pairs once in a lifetime. Spouses constantly show signs of attention to each other and in every possible way demonstrate their care. The mating season begins in February, when the male brings his prey to the female as a wedding gift.

The male always searches for a secluded place for the nest. At the end of April, the female lays her eggs directly on the bare floor or on a small layer of spools. In years when there are especially many rodents, barn owls can produce not one, but two broods. Usually there are 3-6 eggs in a clutch. Incubation lasts from 30 to 34 days.

The female incubates the eggs, and the male brings her food. Owlets always hatch only at night and at two-week intervals.

Chicks at the beginning of their lives cannot swallow food whole, so the mother opens them a small piece of meat and feeds them until they grow up a little.

At the age of 2 weeks, they are covered with baby fluff, and each of them eats 5 mice daily. To feed the younger generation, the female also begins to fly out to hunt.

Upon reaching the age of 40 days, the owlets approach the edge of the nest and begin to intensively train their wings, and after another 20 days they become winged. In the event of a lack of food, older owlets kill and eat their younger brothers.

Chicks outwardly resemble small white fluffy koloboks. At two months, children's fluff changes to adult plumage, after which they leave their native nest. Mortality among them is very high, so less than 40% of chicks survive to one year.

Description

The body length of an adult is 33-35 cm with a wingspan of 85-93 cm. Birds weigh 320-380 g. The upper part of the body is yellowish-brown with small white and black-brown spots. The lower part is white with small dark specks.

Flight feathers of long and narrow wings are reddish with dark speckles. The plumage of the face forms a characteristic heart-shaped facial disc. The beak is sharp, strongly curved down. Small dark eyes provide excellent vision.

The paws are long and well adapted for grasping prey. The fingers are armed with sharp hooked claws.

The average life expectancy of barn owls is about 2 years.

The barn owl is an owl with an unusual appearance. If you don't believe me, look at her face! A white mask was put on the bird's head. What is hidden under it?

IN scientific world this owl is called tyto alba. Where does the barn owl live?

It can be found on all continents of the Earth, except for Antarctica, because even birds with such plumage as an owl's will not be able to endure the harsh cold of the glacial continent. In our country, these owls can only be seen in the Kaliningrad region.

Some scientists call the barn owl a monkey-faced owl. Indeed, there is some similarity ... The people call this bird a ghostly owl, a night owl, a screeching owl. When did the barn owl manage to earn so many nicknames? This question, perhaps, can only be answered by folk legends.

What is remarkable about the appearance of a barn owl?

These birds reach a length of about 40 centimeters. Wings in the open state have a meter size.

From above, the bird is painted in reddish tones with ashy patches and dark spots. The belly area is white with some yellow streaks. The head of the barn owl is round, the muzzle has a flattened appearance and white plumage. The eyes of the animal are very large and expressive. In a word, the appearance of the barn owl is quite memorable, especially if you unexpectedly meet her in the forest at twilight.

By the way, for this habit, people called her a ghostly owl, because she flies up almost silently, and then abruptly appears in the face of a person. Ghost Casper is just a childish joke compared to the antics of this bird!

The lifestyle of the barn owl, and its diet

Like all owls, the barn owl is a real winged predator. She flies out to hunt at night. Special auditory receptors and silent flight give this bird incredible advantages in night hunting. During the day, the owl prefers to sleep in the cool and shade. She sits on a tree so that she is not visible.

The barn owl is a twilight and nocturnal predator.

In the diet of this night bird includes field, small birds, hamsters, . If the barn owl noticed the prey, then there is nowhere to escape from the keen eyes and sharp hearing of the predator. The owl grabs the victim right on the fly, clamps it with its tenacious claws and carries it to a place where it can safely feast on it.

How does barn owl breed

The male seeks a nesting place for these birds. When he has chosen a suitable “site” for building a nest, he begins to call the female with loud cries to see if this place is suitable for hatching future chicks. If the female agrees with the choice of the gentleman, then they start mating.

The female barn owl lays eggs in the built nest. Usually, the clutch consists of 4 - 6 eggs. A little more than a month, the process of incubation continues. After the end of the incubation period, little owls are born. They are covered with soft white fluff. The appearance of the little barn chicks is very funny and even awkward.