Most people everything that happens under the cover of night, finds a mysterious and enigmatic.Animals and birds, nocturnal, previously perceived as messengers of higher powers, and not always favorably inclined to the man.With owls as with any other birds of the world, linked to many beliefs, legends, myths and primet.Ne knowing exactly where and how to live, what to eat an owl in the forest, people come up with the most bizarre version without the real implications of the facts.Based on legends and myths, different nations formed a diametrically opposite attitude to the owls;Some worshiped them as gods and called winged cats, while others considered them the earthly incarnation of the dark forces.
General biological characteristics of the species
Any of representatives owls belongs to a class of birds, owls family of conventional and sipuhovyh included in the squad owls.Depending on the type and weight of these birds can vary from 120 g to 4.5 kg, and the height - 20 cm in sparrow Sichik to 65 cm for white polar owls.Birds of this group are widely distributed in nature and are found in almost all natural zones, which are mostly nocturnal.Living owls around 12-18 years.
Appearance
All representatives owls look quite similar and easy to remember because of such features as:
- large head;
- large eyes, surrounded by a fan-shaped tail surfaces;
- vertical landing "column";
- studded with hair-like feathers cere.
species living in Russia
on the territory of our country live 17 species of the family of owls.Consider the most common of them, what they are, and where and how to live owl prefers to eat what.
Owl
The largest of all owls - eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) - prefer to live in the dense forests, and in the XX century, as the disappearance of these places, its population was considerably reduced.It differs large orange or yellow eyes, as well as the typical "ears" of the feathers.Often confused with these birds eared owls, but the latter is much inferior to the size of an eagle owl.Jerzy, rodents, hares, small and medium-sized birds - sparrows, ducks, grouse and black grouse - that owls eat this species.
Polar (white) owl
also quite a large bird with plumage mainly white with dark feathers inclusion allowing to disguise themselves well, with a round head and eyes yellow.She inhabits the north of the European part of the country, in Siberia, but the largest number of birds observed in the tundra.The main power of this type of owl - lemmings, but she will not refuse from partridges and hares.Small prey she just swallows, but such an uncomfortable meal as hedgehogs, grinds his beak.
great gray owl
One of the largest owls, the length of the body which can be up to 80 cm and the wingspan - reach up to 1.5 m. A special feature of these birds is a wedge-shaped black spot under the beak, the chin, which gave the name to this type of.Natural habitats are its taiga forests of Siberia and the Urals, but due to the fact that it is a wonderful nursery propagates, it can now be found in the forests of central Russia.Various small rodents and small birds - that's what feeds the owl in the forest.
eared Owl
medium-sized birds, living in open spaces and even a hunting day.It is found on all continents except Australia.It can be found in the steppe regions, tundra, taiga.The main condition must be close to raw and swampy areas.Short-eared Owls diet includes small rodents, birds, insects, small snakes, and even fish.
eared owl
most common type of forest and forest-steppe regions of North America and Eurasia.It's quite a small bird, the size is comparable to a pigeon, but at the expense of plumage looks much more.Pen cover her mottled, with a predominance of reddish-brown color.The name of this species of owls received a rather long "ears", which consists of long feathers.To answer the question about where he lives and long-eared owl hunts than nourished, it is quite simple.In Russia, she lives almost everywhere where there is a forest, and in urban parks and gardens it is quite possible to meet.She prefers to hunt at night and preferably in open terrain.It uses for hunting perch - a tree, fence or pole, sitting where she hunts down its prey.If so hunt down one fails, then sent to the owl circled their hunting grounds.Various rodents - that owls eat this species.
hawk owl
As the name implies, this bird looks like a hawk, both in color of feathers, eye color, and style of flight.Distinguished by its appearance from all other representatives of owls.Her head was small, and my eyes are not as large as in the other species of owls.Plumage hawk owl tough and tight to the body.She lives in the north of Europe and Asia, and North America.He prefers boled and coniferous forests.This bird can live a settled life, but the occurrence of adverse conditions it may migrate.Its main diet - various rodents.The rats, shrews, lemmings, voles and mice - what feeds the owl in the forest.Hawk owl can attack and eat a variety of small birds such as tap dancing, partridge, grouse.
Little Owl
medium-sized birds, feathers which are colored brown-brown, and black eyes.The peculiarity of this kind is more flattened than other owls, head, and the blurred contours of the facial disc.This species prefers to live in the forest steppe zone, but with pleasure arranged and human constructions.Little owl hunts at various small rodents.
horned owl
Refers to small owls, its height does not exceed 20 cm. It lives in coniferous and deciduous forests, preferring to remain unnoticed.Shrews, mice, insects and small birds - that's what feeds the owl in the forest.
Pygmy Sichik
It is the smallest representative of the owls, the size of a little more adult sparrow.Color his gray-brown, with a lot of streaks and yellow eyes.Just as the boreal owl, prefers to live away from people and noise, in the dense forests.Hunt can both night and day.Information about it a little bit, as billed Sichik very secretive and install surveillance of them is almost impossible.
