It's been a busy day for a little owl

@JudyEv (382147)

Rockingham, Australia

March 22, 2022 8:49am CST

Someone shared the above image on one of my husband’s photographic sites. Isn’t this baby owl just the cutest? It seems owlets sleep on their tummies. Some think it’s because their heads are too heavy but there doesn’t seem to be any particular proof that this is the case. They mostly sleep while sitting on a branch. The strong back toe or hallux hooks into the branch to keep the owl from falling. They turn their heads to one side and nod off to sleep.

23 people like this

23 responses

@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

22 Mar 22

Owls are cute animals. I wonder what happened to this one, may be this owl is only resting, or laying on the dirt to get rid of insects.

4 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv They are too cute, I still sleep on my tummy, I must descent from an owl.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

@LadyDuck Well ...... You do seem very wise!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Baby owls sleep on their tummies. The adults don't but the babies do.

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@wolfgirl569 (135791)

• Marion, Ohio

22 Mar 22

That does sound like an uncomfortable way to sleep.

4 people like this

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

22 Mar 22

@wolfgirl569 It's not jam packed inside a pen, like some animals in captivity.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

It looks really strange to see a bird sleeping like this. Cats and dogs do but I didn't know that baby owls did too.

2 people like this

@FourWalls (86740)

• United States

22 Mar 22

That makes my back hurt to just look at!!! But hey, if he’s comfortable, who am I to complain. He’s not asking for a memory foam mattress, so I’m guessing he sleeps well that way.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

I guess they must do. I couldn't sleep like that now either.

2 people like this

@moffittjc (128837)

• Gainesville, Florida

23 Mar 22

Very interesting. I never knew owlets slept like that. I used to sleep on my tummy too when I was a child; I most definitely can't sleep that way now.

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@Fleura (35037)

• United Kingdom

23 Mar 22

I like to lie on my tummy but I have to be on the edge of the bed so I can have my nose over the edge and not have to have my head turned quite so far to the side. Oddly it only works if I am on the right side of the bed, not the left.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

@Fleura I can understand that. I could probably sleep like that but flat on my tummy doesn't work.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Some dogs rest like this with their legs out behind. They certainly look funny.

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@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

22 Mar 22

Looks more like a sunbather!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

It seems really strange. Maybe their heads are too heavy to sleep standing up.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Mar 22

@Ronrybs It's only the babies that sleep like this. They'd take up a lot of room on a branch, wouldn't they?

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv I had always assumed that owls sleep like any other bird, perched upright

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@Kandae11 (57231)

•

22 Mar 22

So cute. It looks as if its just about to fall asleep.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

It probably is just about to nod off.

1 person likes this

@rsa101 (40976)

• Philippines

23 Mar 22

That's nice shot and looks like the owlet is just enjoying the sunny day ahead of him. At first glance, it looks like the bird is hurt because of the position of its legs stretched on the ground but as you have described why they are in that position makes me understand that they are just relaxing.

2 people like this

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@rsa101 (40976)

• Philippines

24 Mar 22

@JudyEv Yes, I thought it was injured since the position is not normal for birds like them. I usually imagine them standing on their feet and on a tree branch.

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@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

I agree that he looks like he's been hurt. He doesn't look very comfortable, does he?

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@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

22 Mar 22

This owlet is absolutely precious, so contented and peaceful:)

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

He looks like he wants to be left alone to go to sleep. lol

2 people like this

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv Yes, that rock is very warm and comfortable:)

1 person likes this

@thelme55 (79324)

• Germany

22 Mar 22

Wow! That is so cute. I hope the owl is not feeling sick.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

The baby owls sleep like that. On their tummies. Mother Nature is full of surprises, isn't she?

2 people like this

@thelme55 (79324)

• Germany

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv Yes, it is.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222417)

• United States

23 Mar 22

I LOVE owls and have an owl collection. Occasionally we will hear owls at night.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

I know several people who have owl collection. I have a tiny china one and he is playing a double bass. Our son in Ireland is a bass player.

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@LindaOHio (222417)

• United States

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv That's very cool.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

23 Mar 22

So cute little baby owl. I sometimes see birds weaning their young, who insists on being fed by them.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

You see that here. Great big magpie chicks trotting after their parents and demanding to be fed.

2 people like this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

24 Mar 22

@JudyEv What a sight that must be! I usually see sparrow & mynah birds weaning their young.

1 person likes this

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

23 Mar 22

Aww! It's super cute

. I too like to sleep on my tummy

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

I used to but my back starts complaining nowadays if I do that.

1 person likes this

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

24 Mar 22

@JudyEv It's not a suggested position to sleep. My husband keeps correcting me. But then it's comfortable one for me and once in deep sleep, I easily go back to it

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

22 Mar 22

They are such cuties. All animals babies are to me.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

They are gorgeous bundles of fluff, aren't they? He certainly seems to have big feet though.

2 people like this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

23 Mar 22

@JudyEv Indeed they are, would love to cuddle with one, with gloves on of course. Their legs are very long.

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@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Mar 22

@CarolDM I know you visit Cotton quite often. Are you ever able to stroke or hold her?

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•

23 Mar 22

Owl is a very unique bird, from its shape, its life and its mystery

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

It is certainly a very interesting bird.

1 person likes this

@bunnybon7 (50970)

• Holiday, Florida

22 Mar 22

It is very cute.Human babies sleep much the same way except for the talons/hallux hooks.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Yes, some babies like to sleep on their tummies. Dogs and cats sometimes rest like this too.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

22 Mar 22

Aw now that is a cutie pie

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Isn't he just adorable? He looks ready for a nap.

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (14789)

• Ireland

22 Mar 22

@judyev That look on its face is the look I get when I have transgressed.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Haha - I can believe that. Vince sometimes talks about my 'glare' when he's done something wrong.

2 people like this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

22 Mar 22

That little fella looks just like I feel today!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

Sounds like you could both do with a nap.

2 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (91116)

• United States

22 Mar 22

That picture is adorable!!! I didn't know that baby owlets sleep on their tummies My dog likes to stretch out like that

2 people like this

@Dena91 (17039)

• United States

23 Mar 22

I love its little legs are stretched out behind him. I love when Ginger does that too. It makes them look so relaxed. I can't say I heard owls laying in their stomachs when they sleep. Like you, I heard they stay in the trees when they rest.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382147)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Mar 22

It's only the babies that sleep this way. The jury seems to be out on whether it's because their heads are too heavy or not.

2 people like this