י 300) לילית מדבר

Hume's Owl
Hume's Owl
Hume's Owl










Strix butleri
Strix butleri
Strix butleri



:לילית מדבר
. לילית קטנה ובהירה, דומה ללילית מצויה במבנה גופה אך קטנה ממנה
. קשתית העין כתומה, המקור חום-צהוב, אצבעות רגליה חשופות והטפרים שחורים
. גבה צהבהב כצבע החול, גחונה לבנבן ומקווקו בקוים עדינים בגוון חום
. הכנפים מפוספסים בצבע חום וחום-זהוב
. בית גידולה משתרע מהנילוס דרך ערב הסעודית ועד אירן באזורים מדבריים ומדבריים למחצה
, בארץ יציבה לא שכיחה, בדרום הארץ, מאילת דרך הערבה ועד למדבר יהודה
. חיה בוואדיות ומצוקים ליד מקור מים
... 'אך שם הרגיעה לילית ... ישעיה ל"ד יד
Subspecies and Distribution.
Strix butleri E and S Israel, Jordan, Sinai Peninsula and E Egypt, and patchily in Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman). Possibly still S Pakistan perhaps also S Iran.םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם
Descriptive notes.
The only species of owl that is endemic to the Middle East. Highly nocturnal and therefore likely to be discovered only by its song. 30-35 cm, 215 g, wingspan 95 cm.
Resembles S. aluco in proportions and plumage pattern. White facial disc, crown with dark central band, upperparts light sandy-grey or greyish-yellow with dusky brown spots and streaks,
Distinct golden-buff collar across top of mantle, extending as wash across chest. Scapulars and wing covers tipped pale buff or white, light and dark brown bars on flight feathers and tail. Underparts cream colored with some dark mottling or thin brown shaft streaks, lightly vermiculated on breast and flanks.
Tarsi feathered white, iris orange, bill yellowish-horn, toes greyish.
Differs from S.aluco in smaller size, paler appearance, lack of heavy dark streaking, orange eyes.
Habitat. In rather isolated rocky desert and gorges or canyons in semi desert. Usually with water source nearhy, also near acacias and palm grofes, and sometimes at ruined buildings.
Food and Feeding.
Mainly rodents such as Jirds, gerbils and spiny mice, also birds and lizard, occasionally insectes.
Nocturnal and crepuscular. Hunts mostly from perch, often near roads and tracks, also hawks insects in air. Probably forages occasionally by walking on ground.
Breeding. Mar-Aug. Nest in cavity or cave in wall of steep gorge. 4-5 eggs, incubation 34-39 days, by female, but confirmed record of both parents incubating.
Chick with white down. Fledging period 30-40 days.
Movements.
Resident.
Status and Conservation.
Not globally threatende. Israeli population tentatively estimated at 200 pairs in late 1980's, no numerical data from elsewhere.
Main cause of mortality, at least in Israel, appears to be road traffic.
Israel.
In Israel subspecies Strix butleri. Uncommon resident in most desert regions of Israel.

Strix butleri
(in Israel)

Strix butleri



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