Michel van Royen
Little Owl
- Birds (Aves)
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- Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies (Caelifera)
- in the spotlight
- Mammels (Mammalia)
- The biology of birds in the wild
- 1 – Birds in Animal Paradise
- 2 – The evolution of birds: a look at their fosil past
- 3 – Specification and systematics are important components of biology:
- 4 – Bird feathers: what, where and why
- 5 – The art of flying, how birds do it
- 6 – Fuel for the bird engine
- 7 – Every bird sings as it is beaked
- 8 – From beak to cloaca
Habitat: Open terrain with trees, small-scale cultivated land, floodplains, orchards, dunes, semi-deserts, etc. Usually near human habitation.
Appearance: Resident bird in temperate Europe. Fairly numerous breeding bird in Belgium and the Netherlands – year-round bird – winter visitor in fairly large numbers.
Breeding season: April – August, cavity nester – Little owls form pairs for life and remain in their territory throughout their lives. They also stick to the same breeding site for years and accept nest boxes. Only the female breeds, 3 – 5 eggs.
Characteristics: Length 21-23 cm, wingspan 54-58 cm, weight 180-200 grams, lifespan 16 years.
Food: In summer mainly insects, but also mice and birds. During the day, only insects are caught, but at night the prey consists of night-blind larks or nocturnal mice. Mice are swallowed whole by the little owl. It is a combative bird, which even attacks rats and weasels. It can defend its nest against a cat, but not against a marten, which kills the female on the eggs.
