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Little Owl Athene noctua [Scopoli, 1769]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Strigidae
BTO Codes:
LO , LITOW
EURING No:
7570
Number in Britain:
8700 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
Unlisted
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Declining
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(C1) Introduced Breeder
Subspecies:
vidalii recorded in Britain (of 13 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
22 cm
Wingspan:
56 cm
Weight:
M/F: 180 g
Scientific name from:
after Pallas Athene, Greek goddess of wisdom and arts
and L.: noctua an owl sacred to the goddess Minerva
World Distribution:
Europe, c&s Asia, n&c Africa
Habitat:
Steppe, farmland, towns, open woodland
Diet:
Mostly small mammals and birds, large invertebrates (e.g. beetles, crickets, worms), nocturnal
TitBit:
This diminutive owl (dedicated to Pallas Athene, Greek goddess of wisdom) feeds on earthworms, is occassionally observed to fall over backwards when unexpectedly successful in trying to extract large individuals from the ground
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
5800 to 12 thousand pairs
in 2000
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
1808
[Fossil evidence from
First Breeding Record:
Introduced Kent 1879
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Pasture Farmland
Also common in:
Arable Farmland
And found in:
Villages
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
550 thousand to 1.2 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), CITES(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
34 x 29 mm
Egg Weight:
15.6 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
70
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.47 ± 0.81 (2 - 6) N = 571
Incubation:
29 - 31 days
29.83 ± 2.71 (26 - 36) N = 571
by the:
Female
Fledging:
37 - 40 days
37.28 ± 3.70 (30 - 43) N = 1074
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
23 Apr (11 Apr - 8 May)
Number of Broods:
1(2)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
276
Adult Survival:
0.648
Juvenile Survival:
0.299 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
10yr2m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E
Wing Length
Sexually dimorphic (male much larger than female)
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
166.6 ± 6.8
160 - 174 mm, N =78
Weight
Sexually dimorphic (male much larger than female)
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
193.0 ± 22.27 .
154.0 - 224.0 g , N =65
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Comhachag-bheag
Welsh:
Tylluan Fach
Danish:
Kirkeugle
Dutch:
Steenuil
Finnish:
Minervanpöllö
French:
Chevęche d'Athéna
German:
Steinkauz
Hungarian:
Kuvik
Icelandic:
Kattugla
Irish:
Ulchabhán Beag
Italian:
Civetta
Norwegian:
Kirkeugle
Polish:
Pójdzka zwyczajna
Portuguese:
Mocho-galego
Spanish:
Mochuelo común
Swedish:
Minervauggla
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
van Nieuwenhuyse, D. et al. 2008 The little owl: conservation, ecology & behaviour Cambridge University Press
Genot, J-C. & Nieuwehuyse, D. v. 2002 BWP Update 4:35-63
Hibbert-Ware, A. 1938 Report of the Little Owl Food Enquiry 1936-37 Witherby, London
[598.71 HIB]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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