י 295) שעיר מצוי

Eurasian Scops-owl
Eurasian Scops-owl
Eurasian Scops-owl










Otus scops
Otus scops
Otus scops



:שעיר מצוי
, הקטן מבין דורסי הלילה באזורנו. ניצוי גופו חום-אפרפר
. מפוספס בקוים חומים ובכתמים ערמוניים המשווים לו מראה של קליפת עץ
. בעל ציצת אוזנים המזדקפות בשעת התרגשות. קשתית העין צהובה והמקור שחור
. רגליו מנוצות, האצבעות אפורות, קצרות וחשופות
. בית גידולו שטחים פתוחים עם עצים בודדים, במטעים בעיקר של דקלים ובתחום ישוב
. מזונו העיקרי חרקים לעיתים מכרסמים קטנים וציפורים
. בארץ מבין שבעת התת מינים, מבקרים ארבעה
. מבקר חורף נדיר במרכז ובדרום ועובר אורח לא שכיח ברוב חלקי הארץ
... ושעיר על רעהו יקרא ... ישעיה ל"ד יד'
Subspecies and Distribution.
T. a. alba W and S Europe to N Turkey, also W Canary Is, and N Africa from Morocco to Egypt S to Mauritania, Algeria, Niger and NE Sudan. O. s. scops France, Italy and C Mediterranian isloands E to Volga R, S to N Greece, N Turkey and Transcaucasia.
O. s. pulchellus Volga R E to L Baikal, S to Altai and Tien Shan.
O. s. mallorcae Iberia, Balearic Is, NW Africa (Morocco to Tunisia).
O. s. cycladum S Greece and S Asia Minor, S to C Israel and Jordan.
O. s. cyprius Cyprus.
O. s. turanicus Iraq and Iran E to NW Pakistan. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם
Descriptive notes.
A small, slim owl with ear-tufts that is more often heard than seen, as it is strictly nocturnal. 16-20 cm, 60-135 g, wingspan 53-64 cm.
Occurs in grey-brown and rufous-brown morphs, latter less friquent. Facial disc grey, darker grey-brown around eyes, with thin whitish eyebrows. Crown, small ear-tufts and upperparts brown-grey to rufous-brown with blackish-brown streaks, bars and vermiculations, nape with pale spots, mantle sides more rofous, line of black tipped white or pale buff spots along scapulars.
Outer primaries broadly barred buff-white, tail more narrowly barred. Streaks widest on flanks. Iris yellow, bill blue-black, legs noticeably thin, feathered buff-white, feet grey.
At close range, differs from O. brucei in generally darker and more heavily marked appearance. Races vary in ground color of plumage and in strength of dark making.
pulchellus somewhat paler than nominate, mallorcae smaller, markings heavier, cycladum with darker and coarser markings, cyprius darkest race, and turanicus pale silvery-grey, with dark shaft streaks narrow and sharply defined.
Habitat. breeds in rather open and semi-open broadleaved woodland, including parks, orchards and plantations, also cultivation with groves, and large gardens, riverine forest, roadside trees, and trees in quiet squares in small towns.
In general, requires good cover of trees, with suitable sites for roosting and nesting, and adjacent open ground with plenty of large insect prey. Avoids closed forest and extensive open areas. Breeds from sea-level to 2000 m.
Food and Feeding.
Mostly insects and other invertebrates, also some small birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
Hunts from perch, flying down to grab prey with feet, or may initially land along-side, also hunts on foot, seizing small prey with bill. Moths caught in feet after fast aerial pursuit.
Small insects swallowed whole, larger ones, and vertebrates, pulled apart. Birds plucked.
Nocturnal, occasionally diurnal.
Breeding. Mar-Aug in S Europe, May-Jun in N Africa. Monovamous, occasionally polygynous. solitary.
Nest in tree cavity, hole in building or wall, or occasionally old nest of other species, especially magpie. 3-4 eggs, incubation 24-25 days.
Chick with white to pale grey down. Female performs almost all brooding.
Movements.
Mostly migratory. S populations either partially so or resident. Wholly resient in Cyprus. cycladum largely migratory, some birds winter in S Italy and S Greece. Most reach Afrotropical savanna regions in winter, return megration from late Mar. Overshooting migrants in spring occasionally reach N and NW Europe.
Status and Conservation.
Not globally threatened. European populaion estimated at 75.000-90.000 pairs.
Israel.
In Israel 4 subspecies O. s. cycladum. Uncommon passage migrant and a breeder summer visitor in central and north Israel. Race O. s. scops a scarce passage migrant and very rare winter visitor, O. s. pulchellus and O. s. turanicus rarely on migration.

O. s. cycladum
(in Israel)

O. s. pulchellus
(in Israel)

O. s. mallorcae

O. s. scops
(in Israel)

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