Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes and are considered to be one of the most iconic bird species. There are over 200 species recorded worldwide, most of which are solitary and nocturnal birds of prey. Seven of these species have been identified in Gibraltar, five of them are shown on the stamps and two species are depicted on the miniature sheet. The illustrations featured on the stamps were commissioned to UK based wildlife artist Mr Jonathan Pointer
The first stamp features Barn Owl that is a rare migrant past Gibraltar. Occurs occasionally and recorded throughout, including the urban environment. Barn Owls hunt for ground mammals, and the vast majority of their food consists of small rodents. The second stamp features Little Owl that breeds on cliffs around Gibraltar. Europa Point and Europa Advance are typical localities. They feed on small mammals and birds, beetles and worms.
The third item depicts Scops Owl – a tiny owl is a common migrant, observed especially on the Upper Rock. It is a nocturnal bird, most active from after sunset to midnight. They feed mainly insects, as well as small vertebrates. The fourth stamp shows Long-eared Owl that is a rare migrant past Gibraltar. Recorded on the Upper Rock. It is a medium-sized owl, smaller in size than a woodpigeon. They eat small rodents and small birds in winter. They eat small mammals.
The fifth item depicts Short-eared Owl that is a rare migrant past Gibraltar. It is most often observed at Windmill Hill Flats, near Europa Point. They are medium sized owls with mottled brown bodies, pale under-wings and yellow eyes. They are commonly seen hunting during the day. The stamps on the miniature sheet feature Tawny Owl and Eagle Owl.
See also other owl stamps.
