Exposing the nocturnal charm: Unusual sleeping habits of little owls

Young owls are a rare sight, kept safely by their mother in the recesses of deep cavities. Over several long weeks, the fledglings feed and gather strength. As they venture out and assert their territorial boundaries, we are treated to the delightful sights of these owlets napping on tree branches. However, encountering a little owl sleeping flat out can be quite a surprising spectacle.

Upon hatching, the little owl is unusually petite, weighing just a few grams. Even as it grows by adding weight and developing feathers, its physical strength is still relatively low. A fledgling owl has a notably heavy head, too weighty for the bird to hold upright while it sleeps. This is why its default sleep position is flat on its stomach. As they grow and their muscles become more robust, the young owls gain the strength to switch up their sleeping style. But their sleeping posture is nothing short of adorable during the earliest growing period.

Short bursts of activity tire out these little owls quickly. They must nap on the closest tree available if they find themselves too far from the nest when exhaustion hits. Here, they continue their habit of lying flat, a sight that humans find endearing, and somewhat chuckle-worthy. Some might fear for the owl's safety, worrying that it might roll off the branch, but such an occurrence is highly unlikely. Owls have an impressive outer toe reflex, which enables them to grip tightly to the branch, ensuring they remain safe and secure during slumber.

Research conducted by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and the University of Lausanne confirmed that owls go through the REM phase during sleep, a phenomenon consistent across all bird species and mammals, including us. Thus, in sleep behavior, owls are strikingly similar to humans.

Specialized studies involving an encephalograph revealed that owls spend a considerable amount of their sleep time in the REM phase. During this state of rest, their brain activity remains high, and it is believed that owls may also experience dreams. Like humans, the time spent in the REM phase decreases as the bird ages. So, if you are lucky enough to encounter a sleeping owl on a tree branch, remember to keep quiet and avoid any temptation to touch. The bird could very well be in the middle of exploring its deepest dreams!