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Little Owl![]() Size: 23-27.5 cm; wing span 55-60 cm Weight: 105-260 g |
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Similar |
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See Little
Owl at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
Race "indigena"
This race is also called the "South-east European Little Owl".
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Near-lateral view of an adult Little Owl at the entrance to
its nest hollow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a fledgling Little Owl on one of its
first outings, still close to the nest hollow; this
bird may not be able to fly yet
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Race "vidalii"
This race is also called the "North-western Little Owl".
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Full-frontal view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]
Full-frontal view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]
Frontal view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]
Frontal view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Little Owl looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile Little Owl batting its eyelids;
note the plain crown and chest
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Frontal view of a fledgling(?) Little Owl
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - June | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 29 - 31 days | Fledging age: 7 - 9 weeks |
Young Little Owls leave the nest at about 7 weeks of age, before they can fly (1-2 weeks later). They usually have one brood per season; only in times of abundance there can be two (in which case a pair's breeding season is much longer than usual).
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
Type: Tree hollow, tunnel, crevace | Material: N/A | Height above ground: 1 - ? m |
Little Owls do not line their nests.
Lateral view of an adult Little Owl at the entrance to
its nest hollow looking at the observer (photo courtesy
of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
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Eggs |
Size: 36 x 30 mm | Colour: Satin white | Shape: Elliptical |
Little Owls have a preference for earth worms, but will also take other small prey.
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
litowl_jp_20200204.m4a |
vidalii (Portugal) |
Contact calls + ? | © JP | |
litowl_jp_20190704.m4a |
vidalii (Portugal) |
Alarm calls | © JP | |
litowl_jp_20201026.m4a |
vidalii (Portugal) |
? (+ 2nd unid caller) | © JP |
More Little Owl sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.