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'''Alternative name: Tengmalm's Owl''' | '''Alternative name: Tengmalm's Owl''' | ||
;[[:Category:Aegolius|Aegolius]] funereus | ;[[:Category:Aegolius|Aegolius]] funereus | ||
− | [[Image:Boreal_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Kevin+J+Purcell|Kevin J Purcell}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Boreal_Owl.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Kevin+J+Purcell|Kevin J Purcell}}<br />Bias Drive, Fairbanks, [[Alaska]], [[USA]], April 2004]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | The Boreal Owl is 22-27 cm long with a 50-62 cm wingspan. It is brown above, with white flecking on the shoulders. Below it is whitish streaked brown. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white facial disc, and a "surprised" appearance. | + | The Boreal Owl is 22-27 cm long with a 50-62 cm wingspan.<br /> |
+ | It is brown above, with white flecking on the shoulders. Below it is whitish streaked brown. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white facial disc, and a "surprised" appearance.<br /> | ||
+ | '''Young birds''' are chocolate brown. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
− | This bird breeds across northern [[North America]] and Eurasia, and in mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Rockies. | + | This bird breeds across northern [[North America]] and [[Eurasia]], and in mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Rockies. |
This species is not normally migratory, but in some autumns significant numbers move further south. It is rare any great distance south of its breeding range, although this is partly due to the problems of detecting this nocturnal owl outside the breeding season when it is not calling. | This species is not normally migratory, but in some autumns significant numbers move further south. It is rare any great distance south of its breeding range, although this is partly due to the problems of detecting this nocturnal owl outside the breeding season when it is not calling. | ||
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This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. | This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. | ||
+ | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
+ | *''A. f. funereus '': | ||
+ | :*Northern [[Scandinavia]] to Pyrénées and Urals (except for Caucasus Mountains) | ||
+ | *''A. f. caucasicus'': | ||
+ | :*Northern Caucasus Mountains | ||
+ | *''A. f. pallens'': | ||
+ | :*Western [[Siberia]], Tien Shan and southern [[Siberia]] east to Sakhalin | ||
+ | *''A. f. magnus'': | ||
+ | :*North-eastern [[Siberia]] (Kolyma to Kamchatka Peninsula) | ||
+ | *''A. f. beickianus'': | ||
+ | :*Extreme north-western [[India]] (Lahul) to south-western [[China]] (Qinghai) | ||
+ | *''A. f. richardsoni'': | ||
+ | :*Central [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to northern [[US]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Dense coniferous forests. | Dense coniferous forests. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | It is largely nocturnal | + | It is largely nocturnal. |
+ | ====Flight==== | ||
+ | The flight is strong and direct. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
This smallish owl eats mainly voles and other mammals but also birds as well as insects and other invertebrates. | This smallish owl eats mainly voles and other mammals but also birds as well as insects and other invertebrates. | ||
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<flashmp3>Aegolius funereus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Aegolius funereus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Aegolius funereus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Aegolius funereus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
− | + | ==References== | |
+ | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}} | ||
+ | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Aegolius+funereus}} | {{GSearch|Aegolius+funereus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Aegolius]][[Category:Bird Songs]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Aegolius]][[Category:Bird Songs]] |
Revision as of 21:47, 20 July 2010
Alternative name: Tengmalm's Owl
- Aegolius funereus
Identification
The Boreal Owl is 22-27 cm long with a 50-62 cm wingspan.
It is brown above, with white flecking on the shoulders. Below it is whitish streaked brown. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white facial disc, and a "surprised" appearance.
Young birds are chocolate brown.
Distribution
This bird breeds across northern North America and Eurasia, and in mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Rockies.
This species is not normally migratory, but in some autumns significant numbers move further south. It is rare any great distance south of its breeding range, although this is partly due to the problems of detecting this nocturnal owl outside the breeding season when it is not calling.
Taxonomy
This small owl is known as Tengmalm's Owl in Europe after the Swedish naturalist Peter Gustaf Tengmalm.
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl.
Subspecies[1]
- A. f. funereus :
- Northern Scandinavia to Pyrénées and Urals (except for Caucasus Mountains)
- A. f. caucasicus:
- Northern Caucasus Mountains
- A. f. pallens:
- A. f. magnus:
- North-eastern Siberia (Kolyma to Kamchatka Peninsula)
- A. f. beickianus:
- A. f. richardsoni:
Habitat
Dense coniferous forests.
Behaviour
It is largely nocturnal.
Flight
The flight is strong and direct.
Diet
This smallish owl eats mainly voles and other mammals but also birds as well as insects and other invertebrates.
Breeding
It lays 3-6 eggs in a tree cavity.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Aegolius funereus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Boreal Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Boreal_Owl