Archive for the ‘Owls’ Category

July Barn Owl Sighting

I was standing out in my one of the fields at my farm the other day, with two miniature Shetland ponies grazing at my feet, when a common barn owl started circling us about 20 feet up. It wasn’t yet dusk and was quite early for a barn owl to be out as they are […]

August 4, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Burrowing Owl

The burrowing owl, (Athene cunicularia) is a very recognizable owl due to it’s long, featherless legs. They can be found enhabiting burrows (that may have been excavated by Prairie dogs) in parts of North America and South America. They are quite versatile when it comes to their habitat range as they can live in grassland, […]

August 3, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Eurasian Eagle Owl

The Eurasian Eagle Owl (Scientific name: Bubo Bubo) is often said to be the biggest owl in the world. In fact, recent studies have shown that on average the Blakiston’s fish owl is slightly bigger and therefor takes the title of world’s biggest owl. Measuring 23-29 inches long and having a wingspan of 55-70 inches […]

August 3, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Blakiston’s Fish Owl

The Blakiston’s fish owl, Bubo blakistoni, is believed to be the largest species of Owl in the world. Although many people think the Eurasian Eagle Owl is the largest, recent studies have shown that on average, the Blakiston’s fish owl is slightly bigger. Blakiston’s fish owls are 24-30 inches long and have a remarkable wingspan […]

August 3, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Snowy Owl

The scientific name for the Snowy Owl is Bubo scandiacus. Snowy Owls belong to the ‘Typical’ or ‘True’ Owl family, Strigidae. All owls are split into two families; Strigidae and tytonidae (Barn Owls). The snowy owl was classified as belonging to the Strigidae family and obtained its scientific name in 1758. Other names for the […]

August 3, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · 2 Comments
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Elf Owl

The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is the smallest owl in the world, being only 5-10 inches tall. Their wingspan is around 15 inches long and they have fairly short tails. Elf Owls belong to the Owl Family ‘Strigidae’ which consists of the ‘true/typical owls’ as opposed to the barn owls which make up the family […]

August 2, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Strigidae: True Owl Family

There are two families of owls, the Barn Owls (Tytonidae) and the True or Typical Owl (Strigidae). How these birds have been classified within taxonomy systems is not very clear as different systems say different things. In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy of birds, Caprimulgiformes are classified as within the Owl order and Strigidae are a sub-family. […]

August 2, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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The Common Barn Owl

The Common Barn Owl (Tyto Alba), or Barn Owl as it is most often called, belongs to the owl family ‘Tytonidae’. There are two families of owls: Tytonidae (barn owls) and Strigidae (true/typical owls). Of the Tytonidae family, there are two living subfamilies, the Tytoninae, which are the Tyto Owls, and the Phodilinae, which are […]

August 2, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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Tytonidae: Barn Owl Family

The term ‘Barn Owl’ actually refers to a whole group of owls that belong to the owl family ‘Tytonidae’. There are two families or groups of owls, the barn owls (Tytonidae) and the true or typical owls (Strigidae). All barn owls generally have a large heart-shaped face and are medium to large owls. They have […]

August 2, 2010 · Maddia (Admin) · Comments Closed
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