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This is a small owl, and at 19 - 21 cm in length and a 47 - 54 cm wingspan is not as large as the Little Owl. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. This one was found in Pazin (central Istria) and since it was impossible to find its nest now it is adopted by my friends and hopefully will be returned to the wilderness soon! The Scops Owl perches upright and shows small ear tufts. It is predominantly grey-brown in color, with paler face, underparts and shoulder line. This species has a strong direct flight on long narrow wings, reflecting its migratory habits. The call is a deep whistle given by both sexes. It breeds in open woodland, parks and gardens. It lays 3 - 6 eggs in a tree hole.
This bird breeds in southern Europe eastwards into western and central Asia. It is migratory, wintering in southernmost Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
This little owl left with the friend from a nearby tree!!! Happy end :) Returned to the wilderness!
It had 2 small grasshoppers and 2 spiders from insects diet today and we were told that they can eat chicken livers but only in smaller quantities because it can get sick after too much iron! we'll will see what is changing in a week!
Their favourite food is large insects but if it is young offer it the soft ones.
This one is very small, it doesn't fly yet, it is smaller than my hand! It is still a bit confused and scared...but we will try everything possible to get it back in wilderness...with owls is not so easy though, I know few people who didn't succeed and now they are living with grown-up owls :/
Scops Owls are night Owls, you can usually just hear a soft hoot every so often, sometimes regular, but they are difficult to locate in the dark. If they put it outside near some pine trees late in the evening it might be OK.
Yes it is a cute little thing :)) I am in the same position with birds, but my fried she knows quite much as well as one guy that helped us who has his ornithological club but no one can say whether is a little owl or just an owl....
Aw, what a cutie! Sadly I don't know much (not to say nothing) about birds :-/