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Boreal owl

January 01, 1970

This article is about the owl species. For the women's national football team of Finland, see The Boreal Owls.

The boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) or Tengmalm's owl is a small owl in the "true owl" family Strigidae. It is known as the boreal owl in North America and as Tengmalm's owl in Europe after Swedish naturalist Peter Gustaf Tengmalm or, more rarely, Richardson's owl after Sir John Richardson.[3][4]

Boreal owl
Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Aegolius
Species:
A. funereus
Binomial name
Aegolius funereus
Subspecies

7, see text

Range of A. funereus
  Resident
  Non-breeding
Synonyms[3]
  • Nyctala tengmalmi (Gmelin, 1788)
  • Cryptoglaux tengmalmi (Gmelin, 1788)
  • Glaux funerea (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Strix funerea Linnaeus, 1758
  • Strix tengmalmi Gmelin, 1788

Due to the boreal owl's shyness and evasive reaction to human activities, nocturnal habits and preferred inaccessible taiga forest habitat, it is rarely seen by humans.

Taxonomy edit

The boreal owl was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. Linnaeus placed it with all the other owls in the genus Strix and coined the binomial name Strix funerea.[5] The Eurasian scops owl is now placed in the genus Aegolius that was introduced in 1829 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup with the boreal owl as the type species.[6][7] The genus name is Latin for a screech owl, the word came from the Ancient Greek aigōlios meaning "a bird of ill omen". The specific epithet funereus is Latin meaning "funereal".[8]

Seven subspecies are recognised:[7]

Description edit

 
Juvenile at Innsbruck Zoo

The boreal owl is 22–27 cm (8.7–10.6 in) in length and has a wingspan of 50–62 cm (20–24 in).[9] A female is heavier than a male bird and weighs 131–179 g (4.6–6.3 oz) compared with an average of 107 g (3.8 oz) for a male bird.[10] The plumage is brown above, with white flecking on the shoulders and whitish underparts with rust-colored streaks. The head is large with yellow eyes and a dull white facial disc that is sometimes described as giving the owl a "surprised" expression. The beak is a light yellow, rather than dark like its relative the northern saw-whet owl.[11] The ears are asymmetrical in multiple bones, which affects their hunting success. The sexes are similar in appearance. The plumage of young birds is chocolate brown. The boreal owl's flight is relatively noiseless and straight.[9]

Its call is similar in sound to the "winnowing" of the North American Wilson's snipe.[12][13]

Distribution and habitat edit

The boreal owl breeds in dense coniferous forests across northern North America and the Palearctic, 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 rarely 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.

Behaviour edit

Breeding edit

 
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden

They first breed when one year of age. The nest is usually a hole in a tree often that made by a woodpecker, but the birds also readily use nest-boxes. The clutch is usually 3–7 eggs which are laid at 2-day intervals. They are glossy white and measure 33 mm × 26 mm (1.3 in × 1.0 in) and weigh around 12.5 g (0.44 oz). The eggs are incubated only by the female beginning with the second egg. They hatch asynchronously after 25–32 days. The young are cared for by the female who broods the nestlings for an average of 21 days. The young fledge when aged around 28–33 days and become independent at 5 to 6 weeks.[14]

Food and feeding edit

This small owl eats mainly voles and other mammals (such as mice, chipmunks, other squirrels, gophers, moles, shrews and bats),[15][16] but also birds as well as small amphibians,[17] insects (such as beetles)[18] and other invertebrates. In North America, they have been observed preying on southern red-backed voles, western heather voles, jumping mice, northern pocket gophers and northern flying squirrels.[19] Birds preyed upon include dark-eyed juncos, American robins and common redpolls.[20] It is largely nocturnal, though in the northernmost parts of its range, it has to hunt during daylight because of the very short nights in summer.

Mortality edit

Banded boreal owls have been known to live up to 16 years. Due to the owl's small stature it is often eaten by other owls and large raptors thus decreasing its average lifespan.

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2021). "Aegolius funereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22689362A201898946. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22689362A201898946.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ a b "Aegolius funereus". Avibase.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose bird?: Men and women commemorated in the common names of birds. London: Helm. ISBN 0713666471.
  5. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 93.
  6. ^ Kaup, Johann Jakob (1829). Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der europäischen Thierwelt (in German). Darmstadt: Carl Wilhelm Leske. p. 34.
  7. ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2022). "Owls". IOC World Bird List Version 12.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  8. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 33, 166. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  9. ^ a b Svensson, Lars; Mullarney, Killian; Zetterström, Dan (2009). Collins Bird Guide (2nd ed.). London: HarperCollins. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-00-726814-6.
  10. ^ Cramp 1985, p. 615.
  11. ^ Bull, Farrand (1994). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 554. ISBN 0-679-42852-6.
  12. ^ Alaska Department of Fish and Game The Boreal Owl. [1], Retrieved on May 10, 2013.
  13. ^ "Boulder County Nature Association". Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  14. ^ Cramp 1985, pp. 613–614.
  15. ^ "Aegolius funereus (Boreal owl)".
  16. ^ "Boreal Owl | the Peregrine Fund".
  17. ^ "Boreal Owl | the Peregrine Fund".
  18. ^ "Boreal Owl | the Peregrine Fund".
  19. ^ "Aegolius funereus (Boreal owl)".
  20. ^ "Aegolius funereus (Boreal owl)".

Sources edit

  • Cramp, Stanley, ed. (1985). "Aegolius funereus Tengmalm's Owl". Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. IV: Terns to Woodpeckers. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 606–616. ISBN 978-0-19-857507-8.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aegolius funereus.
 
Wikispecies has information related to Aegolius funereus.

January 01, 1970
boreal, this, article, about, species, women, national, football, team, finland, boreal, owls, boreal, aegolius, funereus, tengmalm, small, true, family, strigidae, known, boreal, north, america, tengmalm, europe, after, swedish, naturalist, peter, gustaf, ten. This article is about the owl species For the women s national football team of Finland see The Boreal Owls The boreal owl Aegolius funereus or Tengmalm s owl is a small owl in the true owl family Strigidae It is known as the boreal owl in North America and as Tengmalm s owl in Europe after Swedish naturalist Peter Gustaf Tengmalm or more rarely Richardson s owl after Sir John Richardson 3 4 Boreal owl Amherst Island Ontario Canada source source Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Genus Aegolius Species A funereus Binomial name Aegolius funereus Linnaeus 1758 Subspecies 7 see text Range of A funereus Resident Non breeding Synonyms 3 Nyctala tengmalmi Gmelin 1788 Cryptoglaux tengmalmi Gmelin 1788 Glaux funerea Linnaeus 1758 Strix funerea Linnaeus 1758 Strix tengmalmi Gmelin 1788 Due to the boreal owl s shyness and evasive reaction to human activities nocturnal habits and preferred inaccessible taiga forest habitat it is rarely seen by humans Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 4 1 Breeding 4 2 Food and feeding 4 3 Mortality 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksTaxonomy editThe boreal owl was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae Linnaeus placed it with all the other owls in the genus Strix and coined the binomial name Strix funerea 5 The Eurasian scops owl is now placed in the genus Aegolius that was introduced in 1829 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup with the boreal owl as the type species 6 7 The genus name is Latin for a screech owl the word came from the Ancient Greek aigōlios meaning a bird of ill omen The specific epithet funereus is Latin meaning funereal 8 Seven subspecies are recognised 7 A f richardsoni Bonaparte 1838 Alaska north Canada and north United States A f funereus Linnaeus 1758 nominate subspecies from Scandinavia down south to the Pyrenees and east to the Urals but not the Caucasus Mountains A f magnus Buturlin 1907 northeast Siberia A f sibiricus Buturlin 1910 southeast and south Siberia A f pallens Schalow 1908 west and central Siberia A f caucasicus Buturlin 1907 Caucasus Mountains A f beickianus Stresemann 1928 northwest India to southwest ChinaDescription edit nbsp Juvenile at Innsbruck Zoo The boreal owl is 22 27 cm 8 7 10 6 in in length and has a wingspan of 50 62 cm 20 24 in 9 A female is heavier than a male bird and weighs 131 179 g 4 6 6 3 oz compared with an average of 107 g 3 8 oz for a male bird 10 The plumage is brown above with white flecking on the shoulders and whitish underparts with rust colored streaks The head is large with yellow eyes and a dull white facial disc that is sometimes described as giving the owl a surprised expression The beak is a light yellow rather than dark like its relative the northern saw whet owl 11 The ears are asymmetrical in multiple bones which affects their hunting success The sexes are similar in appearance The plumage of young birds is chocolate brown The boreal owl s flight is relatively noiseless and straight 9 Its call is similar in sound to the winnowing of the North American Wilson s snipe 12 13 Distribution and habitat editThe boreal owl breeds in dense coniferous forests across northern North America and the Palearctic 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 rarely 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 Behaviour editBreeding edit nbsp Egg Collection Museum Wiesbaden They first breed when one year of age The nest is usually a hole in a tree often that made by a woodpecker but the birds also readily use nest boxes The clutch is usually 3 7 eggs which are laid at 2 day intervals They are glossy white and measure 33 mm 26 mm 1 3 in 1 0 in and weigh around 12 5 g 0 44 oz The eggs are incubated only by the female beginning with the second egg They hatch asynchronously after 25 32 days The young are cared for by the female who broods the nestlings for an average of 21 days The young fledge when aged around 28 33 days and become independent at 5 to 6 weeks 14 Food and feeding edit This small owl eats mainly voles and other mammals such as mice chipmunks other squirrels gophers moles shrews and bats 15 16 but also birds as well as small amphibians 17 insects such as beetles 18 and other invertebrates In North America they have been observed preying on southern red backed voles western heather voles jumping mice northern pocket gophers and northern flying squirrels 19 Birds preyed upon include dark eyed juncos American robins and common redpolls 20 It is largely nocturnal though in the northernmost parts of its range it has to hunt during daylight because of the very short nights in summer Mortality edit Banded boreal owls have been known to live up to 16 years Due to the owl s small stature it is often eaten by other owls and large raptors thus decreasing its average lifespan References edit BirdLife International 2021 Aegolius funereus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T22689362A201898946 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 3 RLTS T22689362A201898946 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b Aegolius funereus Avibase Beolens Bo Watkins Michael 2003 Whose bird Men and women commemorated in the common names of birds London Helm ISBN 0713666471 Linnaeus Carl 1758 Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus differentiis synonymis locis in Latin Vol 1 10th ed Holmiae Stockholm Laurentii Salvii p 93 Kaup Johann Jakob 1829 Skizzirte Entwickelungs Geschichte und naturliches System der europaischen Thierwelt in German Darmstadt Carl Wilhelm Leske p 34 a b Gill Frank Donsker David Rasmussen Pamela eds January 2022 Owls IOC World Bird List Version 12 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 2 March 2022 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 33 166 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 a b Svensson Lars Mullarney Killian Zetterstrom Dan 2009 Collins Bird Guide 2nd ed London HarperCollins p 226 ISBN 978 0 00 726814 6 Cramp 1985 p 615 Bull Farrand 1994 National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds Eastern Region New York Alfred A Knopf p 554 ISBN 0 679 42852 6 Alaska Department of Fish and Game The Boreal Owl 1 Retrieved on May 10 2013 Boulder County Nature Association Retrieved May 10 2013 Cramp 1985 pp 613 614 Aegolius funereus Boreal owl Boreal Owl the Peregrine Fund Boreal Owl the Peregrine Fund Boreal Owl the Peregrine Fund Aegolius funereus Boreal owl Aegolius funereus Boreal owl Sources editCramp Stanley ed 1985 Aegolius funereus Tengmalm s Owl Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa The Birds of the Western Palearctic Vol IV Terns to Woodpeckers Oxford Oxford University Press pp 606 616 ISBN 978 0 19 857507 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aegolius funereus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Aegolius funereus Boreal Owl media Internet Bird Collection Aegolius funereus Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 24 February 2009 Aegolius funereus in Field Guide Birds of the World on Flickr Aegolius funereus Avibase nbsp Boreal Owl photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boreal owl amp oldid 1213576651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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