Owl Passerine: a way of life. Passerine Owl at home

Despite the fact that the owl of the passerine belongs to the order of the owls, there is very little in common between them. It seems that the presence of family ties has become a mistake of scientists in determining the species. With an owl, he has similarities, but the same characteristic features, such as a night "exhilaration", large round eyes and the like, are absent.

The most important difference is that the owl enjoys contact with people, which his elder sister will never allow himself. The curiosity of this little bird made him a pet of many. It is kept at home even if there are some difficulties with leaving.

Description of the species

The scientific name possessed by the passer-baby is Glaucidium passerinum. It is one of the smallest owls that inhabit the Eurasian continent. Body length usually does not exceed 16 cm, and weight often does not even reach 100 grams.

As for the color color, the females and males do not differ very much among themselves. They can be distinguished only in size. Girls are slightly larger than boys, which allows them to feed and warm their offspring without problems.

The chicks are quite different from adults. Moreover, at the first stages of growth, ignorant people simply can not determine that the birds belong not only to one family, but also to the species. Their plumage is brown, the adults are gray with white pies. Babies also do not differ in white spots on the head, which is a characteristic feature of the owl.

The face disk of the bird is very weakly expressed, it is difficult to determine in the twilight or at night that the face or the back of the individual is visible.

Distribution area

A son of a passerine, an owl of a meadow-legged bird are birds that attract people as pets. They have virtually the same dimensions and images of lives, they have the same requirements for content, but the distribution area differs. The sea-legged owl lives in the eastern part of North America, the passerine one lives in Eurasia.

A notable feature is that Glaucidium passerinum is spread on a very narrow band from Japan to Scandinavia. The area is oriented to forest and taiga territories. In the Urals, its existence is intertwined with two small species of owls and owls. But they can not be called permanent neighbors.

For the passerine owl the ideal conditions for living are forest zones where trees with high trunks are planted. Spruce is also common for the distribution of birds. In a word, if the forest is mixed, then here, most likely, you can meet the small owl in question.

Activity and way of life

The main difference from most representatives of the family of owls, which the passerine owl possesses, is the way of life and its activity. If owls hunt and fly out of their secluded place only at night, this species prefers to get their food in the morning or evening. Moreover, if he is hungry in the winter season, he will be able to go out for prey even during the day. That is, it is not important for him whether his dangerous enemies or people will notice him.

Also in winter, late autumn and early spring, the owl reserves food in case it suddenly becomes too cold for hunting. The way of eating is also different. Owls, as a rule, swallow prey completely. If it is too large, then first it is torn into several pieces. Owl prefers to pick only tasty meat patches. For example, he never touches the intestines.

Despite the fact that the mottled coloring helps a little owl hide from the person's eye, it does not always enjoy it. The fact is that the bird is friendly enough, it easily contacts new friends. But this does not mean that an owl can not do this if necessary.

Reproduction

In fact, a regular owl passerine leads a lonely life. If he meets a representative of the opposite sex, he will be aggressive. This is due to the fact that before him - a food competitor. But everything changes with the onset of warm spring days.

Females go in search of a suitable home, in which they will subsequently breed. They will never let a male in if they have not found a home for future babies. Then they proceed directly to the choice of partner.

Males, in turn, must prove the seriousness of intentions. They are looking for food to be fed by their female. Only when both sides are satisfied, a couple is formed.

Males do not stop feeding their "wife" until she hatch the chicks. But they do not fly into the nest. Feeding is carried out at a distance of at least 10 meters.

Content

Passerine at home can survive, but in order for this to happen, the owner will have to work hard. The fact is that birds are not adapted to the cage at all, especially if they were caught in the adult state.

The ideal option is a small enclosure in the yard. Therefore, it is recommended to abandon such a pet if it is not possible to arrange it. The birds do not differ in the complaisant nature. If they are imbued with hatred for one of their neighbors, they will aggressively behave towards him constantly, even after several years.

During the first month, you can not touch the pet, because it passes the period of habituation. Since the birds are curious, after a few weeks they will come to contact. Then you need to start taming.

You can not postpone cleaning in the enclosure, as pests may appear in the garbage, which will cause inconvenience to the resident. But you need to do this carefully, so that the pet feels care, not fear.

Food

It is quite difficult to keep a passerine owl at home. Councils of experienced "breeders" can help, but the nature of the pet is individual. Therefore, the owner must independently look at him, understand what he likes, and what is better to refuse.

Proper nutrition is determined by the age of the individual. If it is a young and active owl, then the basis of the feed should be cereals and seeds. The old representatives are more suitable vegetables and fruits - they are easier to digest.

We must not forget about water. In an enclosure or cage, there should always be a bowl of liquid that needs to be constantly changed. And it is also desirable that the bird has constant access to food, as it eats a lot.

If the appetite disappears, the owl needs to be let out to fly around the house, of course, with closed windows and windows. This will allow him to get some freedom. Appetite will definitely return after such a flight.

Common diseases

There are a lot of diseases that are caught by the passer-baby. Owl-sparrow from childhood is prone to diseases, and many of them appear in babies with the condition that even maternal care will not help them get rid of.

If a healthy and adult individual suddenly began to refuse to play and eat, it means that the body has an infection. Since the bird is rare, you need to immediately contact the veterinarian. If the disease is common, then the doctor will be able to determine it quickly, as well as assign an algorithm for recovery. If he had previously been unfamiliar with her, then only immunity would help to become healthy again.

As a rule, at home, birds become ill more often only because they are not properly kept. For example, they can be fed with those grains or fruits that are contraindicated or allowed, but in small quantities. In addition, if the feed is overdue or spoiled, then it is necessary to purchase new ones - this is rarely observed by the owners.

Interesting Facts

Owl passerine has many differences from owls or other representatives of the family. Quite often there are interesting and unique stories related to them. For example, this bird is very trusting to dogs. If a person walks through the forest with her, the owl will necessarily fly closer. Probably, this is due to the fact that dogs are like wolves, which protect small owls from many predators.

Despite the fact that the owl is a bird, it never flies long distances. The maximum that he can afford is a few tens of meters. However, even at such a small distance, the viewer will be amazed by an extraordinary dexterity.

When a male brings food to the caring mother of his offspring, the feeding is very much like a family quarrel. The female screams and pulls out those pieces of food that brought her boyfriend in the paws. But this is done in order to crush the food. Then the process of absorption and digestion will be less time, and the female will again be able to return to the hatching of the chicks.

Conclusion

Thus, the owl of the passerine is an inquisitive and friendly bird, which, however, very much does not like close contact with man. If it was decided to acquire such a pet, then it is recommended to give their preference only to those individuals that already live in cages and aviaries for several generations. Wild owls are unlikely to survive in an apartment or a person's house.

In addition, you can not bring a pet when his home is still not ready. He must immediately know where the personal area is located. Also it is advisable not to encroach on it at first, let the pet get a little comfortable.