| inviato il 03 Maggio 2021 ore 16:10
Athene noctua
Scientific classification:
Scintific name: Athene noctua
Common name: little owl
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Athene
Species: A. noctua
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of this birds is widespread across Europe, Asia and North Africa, but in some countries has been introduced by man; for example in New Zealand and in United Kingdom. The little owl is a sedentary species and can be found almost everywhere using many different range of habitats. The most used habitats are countrysides with open space areas or near small woodlands, but they can live in urban habitats, like city parks or garden, if the enviroment is pretty quiet. But it can be found also in sandy lands and stony semi-deserts, as well as rocky lands and old ruins. More difficult in high mountains, although it's been seen in Tibet.
Nests
The little owls can use differents kind of nests, as ground holes, pile of stones, trees, or old countryside ruins. I've never seen them in urban context, but it might be possible, so if you have some news about that, please tell me.
Food
They are carnivorous, and their usual preys are small mammals, like mice, anphibians, like geko, worms and big insects, like grasshoppers. Food in excess sometime is stored in the nest. The indigested food is expelled as a wad, that basically is a mix of bones and feathers. The analysis of the wads permits to understand the preys kind, in fact it's a study method used by biologists.
Behaviour and ecology
It's a territorial animal and it defends, when it can, its nest and hunting area, mostly during the breading season. In that period the male hunts for the female, during the while she stays in the nest, but when the chicks are quite indipendent both parents hunt for them.
When they are in danger, they emit particular noises, to warn the mate and/or the chicks, so they can hide themselves.
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