Owls - The European owls II.

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Altstadt (old town)

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Owls - II.

The Northern hawk owl is a very pale owl, measuring 35-40 cm, with a long, rounded tail. It has short, pointed wings and a pale face with a dark facial disc edge, brown rings, light underpart.
Northern hawk owls are active diurnally and in the twilight. They like to sit in the tops of trees, and are not very shy. They live in northern Europe, Asia and North America.

Northern hawk owl and Pygmy owl (photos: Konrad Wothe)

Pygmy owl -with only 16 cm measuring is this petit bird the smallest owl in Europe. The upper part is dark brown with light tips. The belly is cream-coloured with dark lines. The tail with five bright bars, which is distinct shown, is highly movable.
The pigmy owl is active in the twilight and diurnally. During courtship and the breeding season, it is active as well into the day with movements, which are manoeuvrable, but not as smooth as with other small owls. These small owls are widespread in Europe and middle Asia.

Short eared owl - a 38 cm in size owl with small ear tufts, dark streaks on the chest with a lighter belly and narrow, pointed wings. It has pale yellow eyes.
The short-eared owl is active in the twilight but during the breeding season (ground breeder) also diurnal. It flies highly manoeuvrable over long distances; is skilful in walking.
This owl is common in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Short eared owl (photo: Alfred Limbrunner) - Eagle owl (photo: Reinhard Siegel)

The Eagle owl, largest of our owls (70 cm) is very massive, has got a thick head, large ear tufts and brown plumage with dark lines and bars. The eyes are sparkling bright yellow-orange. The back is darker than the belly. It has got long, broad wings with lighter underwings.
It is active in the twilight and nocturnally, during the breeding season also diurnal. The Eagle owl flies with steady movements and powerful strokes with little sound. In spite of their size, they are exceedingly manoeuvrable and as fast as lightning when pouncing. Distributed is this large bird in Europe, Asia, northern Africa.

The eagle owl, the biggest owl of the world, is the Bird of the year 2005 - have a look at Karins Owl Pages

Long-eared owl is a midsize owl measuring 36 cm, has striking ear tufts and a brownish colouring. The upper part is mottled, the underpart with distinct stripes. The eyes are striking orange-yellow, and the pointed wings are slender. The Long-eared owl rests in trees during the day - not always well hidden, but colouring and lack of movement make it difficult to see it. It is active in the twilight and nocturnally. It lives in Europe, Asia and North America.

Long-eared owl (photo: Jürgen Weber) - Common scops owl (photo: Dietmar Nill)

Common scops owl, a small owl, is about 19 cm in size, grey-brown to brown mottled coloured, with ear tufts. The upper part is dark with light stripes, the underpart is more distinct striped, and the forehead and the top of the head are also striped, unlike other owls. It is nocturnal, but goes hunting early in the twilight only during the breeding season. Its flight is steady and straight. It is able to glide over long distances with little noise during flight and is highly manoeuvrable even in thick foliage. At home is This small owl is in southern Europe, Asia and Africa.

Owl links:

www.owlpages.com/ + www.barnowl.co.uk/ + www.steenuilgroningen.nl/

Muncaster/Cumbria - a castle for the owls, which is possession of the family Pennington since 1208 and of course there also is a ghost - Tom Fool is his name.

www.owls.org/ - the official web site of the World Owl trust, which has its seat in Muncaster Castle in Cumbria

S.C.R.O.-I.G.S.E.E.

Society for the Conservation and Research of Owls

Owls need more than the cover of darkness ...

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