Tengmalm's owl, Richardson's owl
The boreal owl or Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus ) 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.
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.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Serial monogamySerial monogamy is a mating system in which a pair bonds only for one breeding season.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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starts withThe Boreal owl is a small secretive bird of prey that lives in dense forests across northern North America and the northern regions of Eurasia. It is brown above, with white flecking on the shoulders. Its underparts are whitish streaked with rust. The head is large, with yellow eyes and a white facial disc, and a "surprised" appearance. Young birds are chocolate brown in color.
Boreal owls breed across northern North America and Eurasia. They are partly migratory especially northern populations that make local movements during the winter. Preferable habitats include dense coniferous forests, however, these owls may also be found in mixed-species and deciduous forests.
Boreal owls are generally solitary birds and can be seen with their mates only during the breeding season. They are largely nocturnal, though, in the northernmost parts of their range, Boreal owls are forced to hunt during daylight because of the very short nights in summer. They hunt from a perch waiting silently for prey to pass by. Once the prey is detected, they swoop down and catch it with the talons. Boreal owls fly with rapid wing beats but may also glide and even hover for a few seconds. Their flight is relatively noiseless and straight.
Boreal owls are carnivores. They hunt mainly voles and other mammals but also birds as well as insects and other invertebrates.
Boreal owls are serially monogamous and form pair bonds that last for one breeding season. However, there were cases of polygynous (one male to several females) and polyandrous (one female to more than one male) behavior. The breeding season occurs in March-July. Boreal owls nest mainly in abandoned woodpecker cavities, but may also use natural tree holes or even nest boxes. The female lays 3-6 white eggs and incubates them alone for 26-32 days; during this time she is fed by the male. Owlets are born blind and helpless. They grow quickly and their eyes open 10 days after hatching. At the age of one month owlets leave the nest but their parents continue to feed them approximately 4-6 weeks more. Reproductive maturity is usually reached when the young are 9 months old.
Boreal owls suffer from the loss of habitat particularly due to logging and agricultural expansion that destroy nest cavities and suitable habitats for foraging. Boreal owls also suffer from pesticides and predation by Tawny owls and martens which kill many nesting females.
According to the IUCN Red List the total Boreal owl population size is estimated to be around 700,000-2,400,000 mature individuals. The European population consists of 90,900-309,000 pairs, which equates to 182,000-619,000 mature individuals. Overall, currently this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Boreal owls play an important role in their ecosystem. They control populations of small mammals, such as voles and mice, and also serve as a food item for local predators.