Owl

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Owl (Bubo bubo)

The owl is the largest nocturnal bird of prey found in Bulgaria.

The length of the body reaches about 67 cm and the length of the wings - up to 1.4 - 2 m. Their weight is about 3 kg. Its eyes and beak are located on a typical face of the Owls (Strigidae) family, belonging to the burrowing owl order.

It inhabits vast areas of Europe and Asia, choosing secluded places from human presence in old deciduous and coniferous forests, steppes, semi-deserts, wet lowlands and dry rocky terrains. In Bulgaria it is found all year round.

The owl hunts at night. In different territories, its prey can be the most diverse animals - rats, mice, rabbits. It also eats carrion from these species, as well as hedgehogs, snakes and large insects, and sometimes even crabs and fish.

It eats bats catching them when are alighted, and almost all smaller birds in its hunting range. By its nutrition, the owl has long proved to be a useful bird from the point of view of human economic interests.

Its mating season begins in February. It nests in rock crevices on the ground and less commonly in tree hollows. At the end of March, the female lays 2 to 4 eggs at interval of 2 to 4 days. That is why the hatchlings after 35 days of brooding are at different ages. The young owls start flying in July. They reach sexual maturity at the age of two.

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