Little owl

Little owl
Athene noctua, Scopoli, 1769

It’s one of the smaller owl breeds. Its distinctive loud voice makes it easily recognisable even in the dark. The little owl is characterised by its flat head and the grey-brown plumage with lighter underside. In spring the female lays up to 4 eggs, which she broods alone, while the male delivers the food. Once the owlets hatch, they’re fed by both parents. At an age of about 7 weeks, chicks leave the nest, although they only learn to fly about 1–2 weeks later. The little owl feeds primarily on insects and small mammals; it also hunts earthworms, small amphibians, reptiles and birds. These owls are quite territorial: they attack invaders on their terrain.
Distribution: Europe, Central Asia, North Africa

male / female
body length: 23–25 cm
wingspan: 54–58 cm
body mass: 0,16–0,17 kg / 0,17–0,2 kg