The Little Owl
(Athene Noctua)

Little owls are the smallest British owl and are closely related to the American burrowing owl.
They are an introduced species to the UK, but have been established for more than 100 years

They have a wingspan of 54-58cm and are 21-23cm long. The males weigh an average of 170g and the females average 174g.

Unlike other British owls, the little owl does most of its hunting at dawn and dusk. This gives it a wider selection of food, allowing it to hunt for both daytime and nocturnal prey.

They are present in open habitats such as farmland with hedges, ruins and other suitable nesting and hiding places. Little owls also occupy woodland, fields, coastal areas and semi-desert areas.

Little owls are widely distributed throughout England and the North and South Eastern parts of Wales. They have a wide distribution across the world, mostly in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Minor.