Tengmalm's Owl

Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758) 42, 10

Photo © Phil Woollen - Bixter, Mainland, Shetland, 22 February 2019

STATUS

Northern Scandinavia to Pyrenees and Urals (except for Caucasus Mountains). Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Boreal (Tengmalm’s) Owl has its claws covered in thick downy feathers whereas the Little Owl's is bare.

Migration period is between October and March.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1812 Northumberland Widdrington, near Morpeth, killed, January.

(Selby, 1825, 1831; Jenyns, 1835; Eyton, 1836; Yarrell, 1845; W. Backhouse, Zoologist 1846: 1262; Bewick, 1847; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872; Hancock, 1874; Bewick, 1885; Bolam, 1912; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

2). 1836 Kent No locality, killed, May.

(Yarrell, 1845; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).

3). c. 1840 Yorkshire Sleights Moor, near Whitby, obtained, undated.

(Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; W. E. Clarke, Naturalist 8: 178; W. E. Clarke, Zoologist 1882: 178; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

4). 1848 Co. Durham Whitburn, shot, 11th or 12th October, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

(D. Embleton, Transactions of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club 1: 314; T. J. Bold, Zoologist 1850: 2765; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1869: 1799; Yarrell, 1871-85; Hancock, 1874; Gurney, 1876; Howse, 1899; Temperley, 1951).

5). 1849 Norfolk Beechamwell, near Swaffham, caught, 27th January.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872; Lubbock, 1879; J. H. Gurney, jun., & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 4: 266; Southwell, 1890; Riviere, 1930; Seago, 1977).

6). 1849 Northumberland Rothbury, shot, April, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

(D. Embleton, Transactions of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club 1: 314; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872; Hancock, 1874; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

7). 1857 Norfolk Burlingham, adult female, killed, about 6th April, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1857: 5680; Stevenson, 1866; Yarrell, 1871-85; J. H. Gurney, jun., & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 4: 266; Riviere, 1930; Seago, 1977).

8). 1860 Lothian Cramond Island, Firth of Forth, caught, December.

(J. A. Smith, Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 2: 244-245; Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; Scottish Naturalist 35: 116; Witherby, 1920-24; Rintoul & Baxter, 1935; Kirke Nash, 1935; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

9). 1860 Yorkshire Lowthorpe, female, killed, undated.

(Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

10). 1861 Northumberland Near Embleton, caught, March.

(Anon., History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 4: 232-233, 459; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872; Evans, 1911; Bolam, 1912; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

11). 1861 Cleveland/Co. Durham Bewley, near Cowpen, Durham, shot, November.

(J. Hogg, Transactions of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club 5: 153-154; Temperley, 1951).

12). 1861 Northumberland Widdrington, caught alive, winter.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Hancock, 1874; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

13). 1863 Yorkshire Flamborough, adult female, caught, 1st October.

(W. W. Boulton, Zoologist 1863: 9020; Cordeaux, 1872; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

14). 1872 Cleveland/Yorkshire Hundale Woods, Loftus-in-Cleveland, Yorkshire, shot, January.

(K. McLean, Naturalist 25: 139; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986; Blick, 2009).

15). 1872 Shropshire Boreatton Park, Ruyton, shot, 23rd March, now at Hawkstone Park.

(J. E. Harting, Field 27th Apr., 1872: 388; J. Rocke, Zoologist 1872: 3111; Harting, 1872; Forrest, 1899; Smith et al., 2019).

16). 1872 Yorkshire Egton Estate, near Whitby, obtained, 19th November, now at Whitby Museum.

(W. Lister, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1875: 65; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; W. E. Clarke, Naturalist 8: 178; W. E. Clarke, Zoologist 1882: 177; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

17). 1873 Northumberland Greens Haven, near Berwick-on-Tweed, immature female, caught, 4th February, died 8th February, now in the Berwick Museum.

(A. Brotherston, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 7: 132; Eds., Scottish Naturalist 2: 57; G. Bolam, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1899: 72; Evans, 1911; Bolam, 1912; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

18). 1876 Cumbria Newton Manor, Gosforth, adult female, shot, 3rd November.

(W. A. Durnford, Zoologist 1877: 277; C. A. Parker, Zoologist 1879: 117; Macpherson, 1892; Hutcheson, 1986).

19). 1877 Essex/Greater London River Lea, between Poplar and West Ham, killed, late January.

(E. Bidwell, Zoologist 1877: 176-177; Christy, 1890; Harting, 1901; Glegg, 1929; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984; Self, 2014).

20). 1880 Lincolnshire Saltfleet Haven, adult, shot, 22nd October.

(J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1880: 511; J. E. Topham, Field 27th Nov., 1880: 805; J. A. Harvie Brown, J. Cordeaux & P. M. C. Kermode, Migration Report 2: 33; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 364; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

21). 1880 Yorkshire Normanby, near Whitby, adult male, shot, 30th December.

(W. E. Clarke, Naturalist 8: 178; J. A. Harvie Brown, J. Cordeaux & P. M. C. Kermode, Migration Report 2: 33; W. E. Clarke, Zoologist 1882: 177; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

22). 1881 Norfolk Cromer lighthouse, caught, 30th October, now at the Castle Museum, Norwich.

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1882: 115; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 3: 553; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1882: 296; J. A. Harvie Brown, J. Cordeaux & P. M. C. Kermode, Migration Report 3: 28; H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1883: 320; T. E. Gunn, Zoologist 1884: 5; Gurney, 1884; J. H. Gurney, jun., & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 1884-89 (4): 266; Seago, 1977).

23). 1881 Greater London/Kent Near Dartford, shot, 18th November.

(J. & W. Davis, Field 26th Nov., 1881: 792; J. A. Harvie Brown, J. Cordeaux & P. M. C. Kermode, Migration Report 3: 28; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953; Self, 2014).

24). c. 1883 Yorkshire Oliver's Mount, Scarborough, caught, undated.

(R. P. Harper, Zoologist 1886: 214; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 364; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

25). 1884 Yorkshire Holmpton in Holderness, adult, killed, 18th October, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.3875).

(P. W. Lawton, Naturalist 10: 112; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 364; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986; Watson, 2010).

26). c. 1884 Yorkshire Off Scarborough, caught on a boat, undated.

(R. P. Harper, Zoologist 1886: 214; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 364; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

27). c. 1885 Yorkshire Ayton Moor, near Scarborough, trapped, undated.

(R. P. Harper, Zoologist 1886: 214; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 364; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

28). 1886 North-east Scotland Near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, female, killed, 3rd February.

(W. Sim, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1886: 140; G. Sim, Scottish Naturalist 1886: 308; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 1886: 365; Scottish Naturalist 35: 116; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Phillips, 1997).

29). 1889 Suffolk Hally Hills Wood, Thorington, near Halesworth, caught, 15th January.

(A. P. Morres, Zoologist 1889: 388; E. A. Butler, Field 30th Mar., 1889: 455; Ticehurst, 1932).

30). 1897 Shetland Scalloway, Mainland, female, found dead, 14th March, now at Shetland Museum (A58-2001).

(Evans & Buckley, 1899; H. W. Robinson, Scottish Naturalist 35: 143; Eds., British Birds 9: 99; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

31). 1901 Norfolk Thornham, picked up, 30th October.

(C. W. Archdale, Field 15th Feb., 1902: 249; C. W. Archdale, Field 22nd Feb., 1902: 281; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 93; J. H. Gurney & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 7: 735; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 314; Seago, 1977).

32). 1901 Suffolk Southwold, adult pair, picked up, 30th October.

(F. W. Frohawk, Field 1st Feb., 1902: 177; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 93; F. W. Frohawk, Field 14th Jun., 1902: 944; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 315; Ticehurst, 1932).

34). 1901 Shetland Sandsting parish, west Mainland, female, shot, 5th November.

(A. Inkster, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1902: 119; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 314; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955).

35). 1901 Yorkshire Near Bickley, caught, 7th November.

(R. Fortune, Naturalist 1902: 164; Nelson, 1907; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 314; Mather, 1986).

36). 1902 Northamptonshire Apethorpe, shot, 8th January.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1902: 68; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 314; Taylor MS., 1959).

37). 1903 Norfolk Rainthorpe Park, near Norwich, female, obtained, July, now at Sheringham Hall, National Trust.

(Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999).

38). 1908 Shetland Unst, adult female, caught, 4th January.

(E. Hamilton, Field 4th Apr., 1908: 583; Eds., British Birds 1: 388; J. Paterson, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 207; E. Hamilton, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 53-54; Eds., British Birds 3: 378; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955).

39). 1911 Northumberland Holywell Dene, caught, 11th December.

(J. M. Charlton, British Birds 6: 8-9; J. M. Charlton, Zoologist 1912: 301; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 282; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

40). 1912 Shetland Unst, caught, 23rd January, kept alive until 19th February, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1912.32).

(T. E. Saxby, Scottish Naturalist 1912: 90; Eds., British Birds 6: 26; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 179; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

41). 1915 Perth & Kinross Hilltown of Mause, Craighall, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, adult male, February, now at Perth Museum and Art Gallery (PERGM 1977.632).

(H. Coates, Scottish Naturalist 35: 115-116; Eds., British Birds 9: 99; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

42). 1929 Co. Durham North Hylton, shot, 4th October, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

(Temperley, 1951).

43). 1959 Orkney Cruan, Firth, Mainland, 26th and 27th December and 1st January 1960.

(C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 55: 565, 566; E. Balfour, Scottish Birds 1: 453-454; J. W. Campbell, Scottish Birds 2: 194).

44). 1961 Orkney Stromness, Mainland, 1st May.

(C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 55: 576; E. Balfour, Scottish Birds 1: 453-454).

45). 1980 Orkney Finstown, Mainland, adult, 13th to at least 20th October, trapped 14th October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 479; Booth, Cuthbert & Reynolds, 1984; M. Grantham, Birding World 17 (12): 527).

46). 1980 Orkney Finstown, Mainland, adult, trapped, 18th November, later found dead.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 479; Booth, Cuthbert & Reynolds, 1984; M. Grantham, Birding World 17 (12): 527).

47). 1981 Co. Durham Fishburn, dead (leg only), 10th January, ringed as nestling, Greften, near Vang, Hedmark, Norway, 10th June 1980.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 562; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 559; M. Grantham, Birding World 17 (12): 527).

48). 1983 Yorkshire Spurn, 6th to 27th March, trapped 7th and 16th March, possibly present since 28th January, photo.

(I. Carstairs, British Birds 76: 416-417; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 77: 538, plates 217 & 218).

49). 1986 Orkney Egilsay, 31st May to 1st June, photo; presumed same, Glims Holm, dead about three weeks, 25th June.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 80: 547, plate 282; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

50). 2018 Orkney Copinsay, 1CY+, 2nd November, photo.

(M. Gray & A. J. Leitch, Scottish Birds 39: 89-90, plate 71; H. R. Harrop, Scottish Birds 39: 250; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 614, plate 362).

51). 2019 Shetland Bixter, Mainland, 2CY+, 19th to 23rd February, photo; presumed same, Tresta, Mainland, 2CY+, 25th February intermittently to 13th April, photo; same, Valyie, Norwick, Unst, 2CY+, 14th April, photo.

(British Birds 112: plates 135 & 174; H. R. Harrop, Scottish Birds 39: 247-251, plates 195-198, 200, 202; P. Harris, Scottish Birds 40: 278-281, plate 204; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 613-614, plate 363).

52). 2019 Shetland Kergord, Mainland, 1CY, male, 14th December, again 11th to 23rd February 2020; same, Lea Gardens, Tresta, 2nd March to 14th April 2020, photo.

(British Birds 113: plate 105; P. Harris, Scottish Birds 40: 278-281, plates 202 & 203; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 614; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 596).