Scientific publications

The material was gathered from the islands and mainland coast at the head of the Gulf of Kandalaksha, White Sea. Information on the Pygmy Owl is mainly focused on the winter diet determined by pulling apart the cast pellets and food caches which the owls placed in passerine nest boxes during autumn and winter. Data on Tengmalm's Owl includes only the composition of cast pellets collected from nests. The diet of both species included rodents, insectivores and birds. Stores made by the Pygmy Owl were found to contain 5 vole species (Clethrionomys glareolus, Cl. rufocanus, Cl. rutilus, Microtus oeconomus, M. agrestis), 2 lemming species (Lemmus lemmus, Myopus schisticolor), 1 shrew species (Sorex araneus) and ca. 10 passerine species. Cast pellets of Tengmalm's Owl contained only 3 vole species (Cl. glareolus, M. oeconomus, M. agrestis), 1 shrew species (S. araneus), several passerine species and remains of insects.