Page 240 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

OWLS/NIGHTJARS
Families Strigidae, Tytonidae
OWLS

WLS ARE highly
SUDDEN POUNCE
Ospecialized birds with A Tengmalm’s Owl swoops onto
exellent eyesight and hearing. prey located by using its eyes
They see well in low light and ears. Its softly fringed flight
feathers minimize wing noise.
levels, although not in complete
darkness, and many can pinpoint
prey accurately by sound alone.
Their ears are slightly asymmetrical
in size, shape, or position. As an owl
twists and bobs its head it is using
this adaptation to get a “fix” on
its prey. Owls often attract the
attention of smaller birds (and also
sometimes Jays and Magpies) if
discovered by day, and mixed parties
“mob” the roosting owl with loud calls,
sometimes diving at its head.

BREEDING STRATEGIES
Some owls have fixed territories and rear small broods
each year. Others are nomads, breeding wherever there is
plentiful food.They lay many eggs but only in years with an
adequate food supply do many chicks survive.The Tawny
and Tengmalm’s are typical woodland owls; Scops and Little
Owls live in more open surroundings.The Eagle Owl is a
massive and powerful predator, as is the Snowy Owl of far
northern tundras.The two “eared” owls are very alike in
plumage pattern and overall shape,and both hunt over open
ground.The Short-eared Owl lives on heaths and marshes
FORWARD SWING
and hunts even in full daylight, while the Long-eared Owls can swing their whole body forward, to grip with
inhabits woods and thickets and hunts only after dark. their feet, whether while landing or striking prey.

Family Caprimulgidae
NIGHTJARS

UMMER MIGRANTS to Europe, taking
S advantage of an abundance of moths, the
nightjars spend the day motionless and emerge
at dusk to feed.These remarkably agile, light-
weight fliers have large wings and tail.Their
strange songs help to identify them.Nightjars
occupy open heathland or lightly wooded
places with wide clearings, often flying around
CAMOUFLAGE bush tops and trees to catch moths in flight.
A Nightjar at rest is usually
exceptionally difficult to spot. It is They may approach people at dusk, as if
rare even to flush one by chance. curious about intruders in their territory.

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