Little Owl

The Little Owl is a compact, often diurnal owl native to much of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, and introduced successfully to Britain in the 19th century. Its small size and habit of perching openly on fence posts or barn roofs by day make it one of the more visible owl species.

Little Owl feathers are noticeably small compared with other European owls, with a brown ground color heavily marked with bold white spots on the crown, back, and wing coverts, and white streaking on the underparts - much bolder and more contrasting spotting than the finer speckling of a Barn Owl or bark-like mottling of a Tawny Owl. The wings are short and rounded, and the flight feathers retain the soft fringed edge typical of owls, though the species flies with a more direct, undulating flight than its woodland relatives.

Sexes are alike in plumage. Juveniles are duller with less distinct spotting that sharpens as feathers are replaced in the first molt. Adults undergo a single complete molt after breeding.

Little Owls favor open, lightly wooded farmland, orchards, and hedgerows with mature trees or old buildings offering cavities for nesting and roosting. The species is largely resident across its range in Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, showing little migratory movement.

Unusually for an owl, the Little Owl is frequently active by day as well as at night, often seen perched upright on posts, walls, or low branches, bobbing its head when alert. It feeds on insects, earthworms, and small vertebrates, nests in cavities in trees, walls, or buildings, and gives a range of yelping and mewing calls. IUCN status is Least Concern.