Hello everybody and welcome back to another instalment from Voiceforwildlife where today we will be learning about a bird that may lure you to a derelict and forgotten barn for a quick glimpse of it's peeping head - the Little Owl.
The Little Owl is minuscule compared to the bulky Barn Owl, with a healthy weight being 200 grams - around the same weight as a pet hamster. They are usually 22 cm long with an average wing span of 55cm. If the size isn't conclusive enough to determine whether a bird is a little owl then their outgoing and slightly awkward features will almost certainly help. Their eyes are extremely largely proportioned compared to their heads, being a bold golden-yellow, centred by a large black pupil that is constantly growing and retracting as they are very sensitive. These are situated on the front of the head, split by a sharp, downward pointed nose that appears similar to a dull cream diamond. Fluffy brown feathers slope from the top of the nose creating a kite shape when they join together at the edge before dissolving into an untidy white beard. The cap of the head is a fine mixture of a majority of chocolate brown and yellow-White patches which look as if they had been painted on in watercolour. This pattern continues around the entire body, however the blotches of white and brown are larger. The top of the body is still mainly covered in the muddy brown but as we progress down the body the yellow-White patches soon 'take over'. Their feet are small and stumpy when they are still, pointed with three sharp talons on each and ,unlike many other species, are coated in a thin layer of white tufted feathers. These body features are the same for both males and females making it difficult to differentiate them.
Introduced in the 19th century, the Little Owl can be found mainly in England and Wales - bieng present in the UK all year round. They thrive in derelict barns, being seen skipping along roofs and bobbing their heads through crevices. Moreover they can be found in parks and woodland taking advantage of the trees cover. Their food source mainly consists of worms ,which they can be witnesses carefully pulling from the ground, small birds and (like all owl species) small rodents and mammals. In order to catch these, Little Owls need to glide low to the ground at dusk, this creates a great opportunity for us to see them.
These owls usually nest in parks (holes in trees), barns and even rural gardens or nest boxes if they are provided. They do not insulate or fill the nest leaving them as natural as possible, so if you provide a nest box be sure to leave it empty. Specialised Little Owl nest boxes can be purchased for around £20 pounds. Breeding starts in April, with around two clutches bieng laid a year. The female is then left to incubate the 4-5 eggs for up to 30 days, with both adults feeding until fledging occurs around 30 days later. There are currently 5,700 breeding pairs of Little Owl in the United Kingdom, with their population being un-threatened.
So as turn up your heating just remember the sneaky barn owl skipping from tree to tree in the icy weather keeping a eye on all those who venture far enough to see them.
(No credit is taken for the photo)