Lilith-Kauz
| Lilith-Kauz | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Athena Lilith | ||||||||||
| Hartert , 1913 |
The lilith owl ( Athene lilith ) is a species of little owl that is found in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The species has so far been classified as a subspecies of the little owl and accordingly listed as Athene noctua lilith . Due to phylogenetic studies, the subspecies delimitation in the little owl is currently changing. The Central and Southern European forms based on the cytochrome b comparison differ significantly from forms in Asia Minor and Israel. According to the results available so far, it is possible that the subspecies noctua , vidalii , indigena , lilith and plumipes are species that belong to a superspecies . In their monograph on owls, published in 2008, Claus König and Friedhelm Weick name only eight subspecies and, in addition to spilogastra, also treat lilith as separate species.
Appearance and voice
The Lilith Owl is a very pale, sandy-brown owl. The body size is only 19 to 20 centimeters. It is very similar to the little owl, but has narrower claws than this species. The eyes are yellow. The eyelids, on the other hand, are black. The back and the wing covers show a very dense pattern of spots. The parting is pale brown. The face veil is only indistinctly developed. The throat is whitish, the rest of the underside of the body is creamy white to pale yellow-brown and has pale brown longitudinal spots. The legs are only weakly feathered. The young birds resemble those of the little owl, but their meso style is more sand-colored. The call repertoire of the Lilith owl has not yet been adequately investigated. It is noticeable, however, that the pitch of the male singing does not rise, while the little owl singing has a "questioning" character because of the rising pitch. The singing is also less nasal.
The very similar little owl is somewhat larger and more compact and has a slightly more pronounced facial veil. The Ethiopian owl , which borders the distribution area of the Lilith owl in the southwest, is a little smaller than the Lilith owl. Its plumage is tinted a little more brown.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Lilith owl is Cyprus , southern Turkey, Syria , Israel, Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula. The distribution area partially overlaps with those of the little owl subspecies A. n. Bactriana , A. n. Glaux and A. n. Indigena . The Lilith owl is a resident bird.
The habitat of the Lilith owl are semi-deserts with isolated bushes, shrubs or trees, stone desert, river valleys with only sparse vegetation, open areas with ruins or walls that offer the species nesting opportunities and day hiding places. In addition to the lowlands, it also occurs at high altitudes.
Way of life
The Lilith Owl is crepuscular and diurnal. However, he occasionally hunts at night or lets his singing be heard during the night. Its food spectrum includes insects, spiders and scorpions. Small vertebrates such as mice, reptiles, frogs and occasionally smaller birds also play a role. The Lilith owl hunts from a low stand guard as well as directly from the ground. Relatively little is known about the species-specific reproduction habits of the Lilith owl, as it has not been specifically investigated because of its long-standing subspecies status. In Israel, however, the owls breed mainly in the period from February to the end of June. The clutch consists of two to eight eggs that are incubated for 27 to 28 days. The young birds can fledge at 30 to 35 days.
supporting documents
literature
- John A. Burton (ed.): Owls of the world - development - physique - way of life. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen 1986, ISBN 3-7888-0495-5
- Claus König , Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
- Jürgen Nicolai : Birds of prey and owls. Identify, get to know and protect birds of prey, owls and owls . Revised Aufl. Gräfe and Unzer Verlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-7742-1858-7 (compass nature guide).
- Theodor Mebs , Wolfgang Scherzinger : The owls of Europe. Biology, characteristics, stocks . Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2008 (updated and revised edition), ISBN 978-3-440-11642-5
- Dries van Nieuwenhuyse, Jean-Claude Génot, David H. Johnson: The Little Owl - Conservation, Ecology and Behavior of Athene noctua, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008, ISBN 978-0-521-88678-9