Stripe scops owl

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Stripe scops owl
Pallid Scops Owl.jpg

Striped scops owl ( Otus brucei )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Scops Owls ( Otus )
Type : Stripe scops owl
Scientific name
Otus brucei
( Hume , 1873)

The pallid scops owl or Streifenohreule ( Otus brucei ) is one of the scops owl ( Otus scops ) very similar species whose distribution area especially in the Middle and the Middle East is. Four subspecies are described, of which Otus bucei exiguus occurs in southeast Turkey and occasionally on the eastern Mediterranean coast.

features

The striped scops owl measures about 20 to 21 centimeters, so it is slightly larger than the scops owl. The wingspan is between 54 and 64 centimeters. The basic color is a light, bark-like brownish-gray. Rust-brown feathers, which are typical for the scops owl, do not have strip-eared owls. Irregular, fine, dark, often thin, thread-like lines are embedded in this basic color. The underside is more creamy in color, it is also finely dotted with black lines. The light veil of the face is darkly edged, the iris is yellow. In flight a light banding of the wing feathers is noticeable, but this is never as clearly pronounced as in the scops owl. The feather ears are only raised in arousal situations. The sexes differ neither in size nor in color. Young birds are generally paler in color, but even they can hardly be distinguished from colored individuals by field ornithology.

The striped scops owl can only be confused with the scops owl , with which it occurs sympatricly in some parts of its western range . Best distinguishing feature is the distinctly different reputation, which sounds in the scops owl like a monotonous, relatively bright Bearing tone in which Streifenohreule but a deep, hollow on the reputation of the Dove reminiscent Buh is. The bright call sequence of the scops owl is significantly slower than that of the sister species, whose call interval is about one second. The two species are very similar in appearance. The best distinguishing features are the overall lighter basic color, in particular the very light veil of history and the lack of rust-brown tones in the striped scops owl. The darkest and most similar subspecies to the scops owl is O. b. exiguus

distribution and habitat

Breeding area of ​​the striped scops owl
The wintering areas are in the southern area of ​​the breeding areas, or south and southwest of it.

Striped owls are common in the Near and Middle East, south- central Asia, as well as Afghanistan , Pakistan, and northern India . The most westerly distribution islands are in southeastern Turkey , in the east the western border areas of Mongolia are reached. The southeasternmost known occurrences are in the border area between Bangladesh and Myanmar

In this large distribution area, the species mainly inhabits poplar , willow and tamarisk trees along rivers. If there are enough cave trees, strip-eared owls can also be found in agricultural areas, especially in vineyards, orchards and date groves, as well as in large parks and cemeteries.

hikes

In most of its range, the striped owl is an obligatory migratory bird. Only the birds that breed far in the south seem to be mostly resident birds . The wintering areas are in Lower Egypt , on the eastern Mediterranean coast , in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, and generally in the southern areas of the breeding area. The train distances are between 2500 and 4500 kilometers.

Food and subsistence

Striped owls feed mainly on insects such as night-swarming butterflies , beetles , cicadas , grasshoppers and crickets . Occasionally, small lizards , small songbirds, bats and small rodents such as mice and gerbils are also preyed on. Most of the prey is hunted on the fly; Smaller prey animals are eaten immediately, larger ones are carried to a resting place and there swallowed or cut up whole. Animals living on the ground are often spotted from a hide and, after a short shock flight, hit on the ground. Striped owls are primarily night hunters, but during the breeding season they can also be found hunting in the early morning hours and in the late afternoon.

Breeding biology

Detailed information on the breeding biology is missing. The strip-eared owl probably becomes sexually mature at the end of its first year of life. The breeding season begins in the southern areas in February and lasts until May. The clutch consists of 4-5 (2-6) eggs; these are usually stored in an abandoned woodpecker cave, in natural half caves, but also in rock niches, occasionally even under the eaves of inhabited houses. Magpie's nests are also rarely chosen as nesting sites . No information is available on the incubation period and nestling time.

Stock situation

Exact inventory analyzes of the species are not available. However, it seems to occur quite frequently in large areas of its range. The IUCN lists them as not endangered. The holdings in southeastern Turkey seem to contrast sharply shrink, so BirdLife Europe the stock situation with CR ( critically endangered - high risk ) classifies.

swell

  1. ↑ a b c James R. Duncan: Owls of the World , p. 212
  2. ↑ Data sheet Birdlife international (2004)
  3. ↑ Data sheet Birdlife Europe (data from 2001)

literature

Web links

Commons : Striped Scops Owl ( Otus brucei )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files