Night raptor of small size (about 23 cm or 9 in) and plump appearance. It is characterized by a large rounded head and lacking cephalic plumes ("owl ears"). Plumage of dark brown and greyish colour with white mottles. Breast and ventral area clearer than the back but also mottled. Striking white eyebrows and big yellow eyes. Short tail and rounded wings. Oscillating flight.
Cultivated areas
Although it occupies many types of habitats, it prefers open and partly wooded spaces. Present in grasslands, olive groves, crops, wastelands, borders of plots with hedges, buildings, farmhouses and even within villages and small cities.
Species resident all year round in the province. Although it is a night raptor, it has daylight habits and it is easy to see on poles or piles of stones. It breeds at the end of March and makes an annual laying of 3 to 5 eggs. Nest in cavities. Very variable feeding and depending on the availability of prey. It captures from small mammals to little birds, amphibians, small reptiles or insects.
Frequent and common bird in Malaga. It can be observed in many places. A curious case, for example, is the roofs of houses near the Rueda Alameda Square in Ronda. In the Great Path it is present in stages 2, 7, 8, 14, 17, 18, 22, 27, 28 and 33.
When you hear a cat meow at dusk in an olive grove probably the little owls are greeting each other since, as a Spanish saying goes, "each owl has its olive tree". These birds emit different sounds, some very similar to the meows of a cat. Something very characteristic is that when you see them perched and they feel observed they shrink, crouching and standing several times.
- Campillos – Sierra de Yeguas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 09. Periana - Riogordo
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 02. Rincón de la Victoria - Vélez-Málaga
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 03. Vélez-Málaga - Torrox
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 04. Torrox - Nerja
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 07. Cómpeta - Canillas de Aceituno
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 08. Canillas de Aceituno - Periana
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 12. Villanueva del Rosario - Archidona
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 14. Villanueva de Tapia - Villanueva de Algaidas
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 16. Cuevas Bajas - Alameda
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 18. Fuente de Piedra - Campillos
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 21. Estación de El Chorro (Álora) - Carratraca - Ardales
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 22. Ardales - El Burgo
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 24. Ronda - Estación de Benaoján
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 27. Benalauría - Genalguacil
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 28. Genalguacil - Casares
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 30. Estepona - Marbella
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 31. Marbella - Ojén
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 33. Mijas - Benalmádena
- Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 35. Alhaurín de la Torre - Málaga
- Lagunas de Campillos
- Llanos de Líbar
- Los Llanos de Antequera – Cartaojal – La Sarteneja
- Sierra del Padrastro
- The Mouth of Rio Velez
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