Little owl

Where are they located?

The little owl (Athene noctua) has an extremely wide distribution that extends throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

The little owl ranges from the Iberian Peninsula and Denmark to eastern China. In Africa, it can be found from Mauritania to Egypt, and also along the Red Sea coast. In the Middle East, they are found on the Arabian Peninsula.

They were historically introduced to Great Britain and, more recently, to New Zealand.

What is its habitat?

The little owl (Athene noctua) lives in a wide variety of habitats, but its preferred habitat is open land, with areas for resting, cavities for nesting, and a stable climate. This bird avoids dense forests.

It can be found in open fields, pastures, open woodlands, steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, cliffs, unwooded mountains, and ravines. It can also be seen in agricultural areas and urban and suburban habitats.

The little owl is a cavity-nesting species, meaning it lives in tree holes or rock holes, cliff crevices, artificial structures, and even the nests, caves, and burrows of other animals.

It can be found both at sea level and at altitudes of 3,000 m, and occasionally even at 4,600 m. However, it prefers lower areas because they have a milder climate.

Are they endangered?

Although it is a very adaptable species with a wide distribution, a decline has been detected throughout Europe, not only of the little owl, but also of other owl species. The number of offspring per pair is very low.

The main threat to the Athene noctua is the decrease in prey and nesting sites due to industrialized agricultural practices, agricultural intensification, soil exploitation, the felling of old and hollow trees, and the restoration of old buildings. Harsh winters and roadkill also contribute to this.

The Athene noctua is ideal for studying owl decline: it is a well-known species worldwide, there are significant numbers, and it responds quickly to conservation interventions. For example, the introduction of nest boxes in their habitats has increased their numbers.

Evaluated by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern (2004).

Little owl

Did you know…?

The little owl is famous for hunting prey the same weight as itself.

This species usually stores food in specific places, which can contain up to 30 items to be eaten later.

The little owl can see yellow, green, blue and, sometimes, red. It can also distinguish different shades of gray, which increases its ability to see at night.

Males are the main providers of food during the breeding season. This may be related to their light weight, which would help them move quickly. The fact that females weigh more could be helpful when it comes to caring for and defending the nest.

Like many other little owls, Athene noctua turns its head from side to side in a very curious way, possibly to locate nearby objects.

The little owl has been traded for hunting small birds and has even been kept as a domestic pet.

The little owl (Athene noctua) regularly rolls around in the sand, and has even been observed soaking up smoke from chimneys.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognize each other?

Little owls have a stout body, a broad, rounded head, bright yellow eyes and beak, and spotted plumage.

Most are dark brown with whitish spots all over the body, more abundant on the chest and face than on the back. The tail is short, as are the wings, which are rounded and have whitish spots in the form of horizontal bands. They have prominent eyebrows and a V-shaped patch on the back of their head.

Average length: 23 cm
Average wingspan: 56 cm
Average weight: 170 g

Males and females have a similar appearance, but males are usually smaller than females and have a lighter face. Juveniles are pale and do not have the same contrasting colors as adults.

How do they behave?

The Athene noctua is a sedentary and territorial species. Males usually remain in the same territory throughout their lives. The boundaries can increase or decrease, and are more extensive during the courtship period.

Although it has been observed hunting and calling during the day, the little owl is much more active early in the morning and at dusk. They fly in an undulating manner and close to the ground.

The Athene noctua is a very vocal bird and has a large repertoire of calls. It uses these signals to contact or attract mates, defend territories from enemies and other owls, create alarms, and communicate.

How do they mate?

The breeding season can begin in early February and usually ends in late August, but it varies depending on the region. The courtship period begins when the male starts patrolling the boundaries of his territory, calling out to ward off other males and attract potential mates. Once the potential female makes contact, the pair begins courtship. They fly together and rest in the same tree. The female makes an "initial" call to the mate, which prompts the male to feed her, indicating that there is enough food to reproduce and feed the young.

The male shows the female potential nests in his territory until she chooses one. The nest is made in a drilled cavity, and the pair cleans it before laying, which is usually about 2 to 5 eggs. If the first clutch is lost, the female may lay another. The female incubates the eggs for 25 days and raises the chicks for 1 or 2 weeks. During this period, the male brings food.

What do they eat?

The little owl (Athene noctua) feeds on insects (mainly cockroaches and grasshoppers), small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and earthworms. It captures prey by swooping down on them or by chasing them on the ground.

To catch prey, they use both their beak and claws. They often carry it to holes where they store excess food. Undigested portions of prey are compacted internally and regurgitated as pellets.

About their young

After birth, the parents bring prey to the chicks, and they begin to explore outside the nest. After 21 to 35 days, the chicks have their adult plumage, and the parents continue to feed and protect them for another month. The young become independent and leave the nest when they are 2 or 3 months old, and they begin to reproduce the year after they are born.

As the chicks grow older, the bond between the pair diminishes, and they may separate. However, the offspring show bonds of loyalty. Pairs often fly and hunt together. They also share bodily contact while sleeping, and they caress and rub each other.

Do they have predators?

Little owl predators tend to be larger birds, such as other owls, hawks, and eagles. Small mammals, such as genets or foxes, are also predators.

Little owls shriek when they detect predators to warn other little owls to hide. When they issue the alert, they sway their bodies up and down. While sleeping, they camouflage themselves by posing in a way that allows them to hide their light spots.

The V-shape at the back of their heads mimics the shape of their eyes, to prevent predators from attacking them from behind.

What is its lifespan?

Average life in the wild: 4 years.
Life in captivity: over 10 years.

What is its global population?

There are an estimated 618,000 to 1,170,000 breeding pairs in Europe, which equates to 1.24–2.34 million adults. As Europe hosts approximately 25% of the global population, a very preliminary estimate of the global population is 5–9.9 million adults.

Little owl

Athene noctua

While sleeping, couples maintain bodily contact, caressing and rubbing each other

Where are they located?

What is its habitat?

Are they endangered?

Evaluated by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern (2004).

Donation

Did you know…?

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Little owl

Athene noctua

While sleeping, couples maintain bodily contact, caressing and rubbing each other

Where are they located?

What is its habitat?

Are they endangered?

Evaluated by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern (2004).

Donation

Did you know…?

Join our Newsletter!

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