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Athene noctua


Athene noctua
Photo Information
Copyright: Mn Gl (marjan) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 459 W: 14 N: 366] (2685)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-18 13:08
Viewed: 4894
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I think i is Athene noctua. Someone can tell me if it is not.
From Wikipedia:
The Little Owl (Athene noctua) is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was introduced in the 19th century, and is now naturalised there.

This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.

The Little Owl is a small owl, 23-27.5 cm in length. It takes prey such as insects, earthworms and amphibians. It is partly diurnal and often perches prominently.

This is a sedentary species which is found in open country such as mixed farmland and parkland. It usually nests in holes in trees or rocks, laying 3-5 eggs which are incubated by the female for 28-29 days, with a further 26 days to fledging.

The adult Little Owl of the most widespread form, the nominate A. n. noctua, is white-speckled brown above, and brown-streaked white below. It has a large head, long legs, and yellow eyes, and its white “eyebrows” give it a stern expression. This species has a bounding flight like a woodpecker. Juveniles are duller, and lack the adult's white crown spots. The call is a querulous kee-ik.

There is a pale grey-brown Middle Eastern type known as The Syrian Little Owl, or A. n. lilith. Other forms include another pale race, the north African A. n. desertae, and two intermediate subspecies, A. n. indigena of southeast Europe and Asia Minor, and A. n. bactriana of central Asia.

The Little Owl was sacred to the goddess Athena, from whom it gets the generic name.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Owl"
nardophoto, scottevers7, saguzar has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Florin: Hi Florinmarjan 1 07-04 09:17
To poin_45: Athene noctuamarjan 1 05-22 01:15
To wishnugaruda: Athene noctuamarjan 1 03-19 12:19
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Marjan,
Very nice portrait!
Great POV and good detail, the dark background really works well.
Thanks for sharing!

Hi Marjan,
where have you found this wonderful bird.
I never had the chance to see an owl in nature.
They are marvelous.
Good contrast here against the dark BG, thanks for sharing
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Marjan,
A very nice shot on this owl. The compomposition and pose are excellent. The dark backround makes him stand out.
Scott

Great bird, a little over exposed maybe, but the bg really makes him stand out. Well done

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2006-03-21 22:24]

Well done Marjan, very well composed. Sharp and clear. Thanks.

Mario

Hi Marjan,
Interesting photo and note, a sister species lives in Argentina and is very similar, You can see it in my gallery. good composition, only abit soft focus and overexposed in some areas.
regards
Hernán

My dream to shot owl!

  • Great 
  • Florin (2)
  • [2006-06-30 16:03]
  • [+]

Hello Marjan,
I know this bird from my home country Romania. It is indeed the Little Owl (Athene noctua), the Latin name telling this nocturnal bird was a symbol of Greek goddess Athena and an example of wisdom.
The band on its left foot and the tree trunk it’s sitting on tell me it might be a captive owl. Am I right? I’ve had problems shooting through wire screens in zoos, but sometimes it worked. It’s the chance to take pictures of animals otherwise difficult to approach in the wild and to practice your photographical skills.
Congratulations for this picture, especially for the contrast between the bird and its background.
All the best,
Florin

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