Little Owls were sacred to Athena in ancient Greek mythology, giving the species the scientific name Athene noctua.
Unlike most owls, they're often active in daylight and can be seen perched on fence posts or rooftops.
They were introduced to Britain in the 1800s and have established a stable population in southern England.
Little Owls use specialized 'tube' nest boxes in old orchards and farmland. They're not common backyard birds.
Mount a Little Owl tube box 2–4 m up under an eave or in a pollarded tree.
Insects, small rodents, and earthworms — they hunt their own.
Open ground with scattered perches; they avoid dense forest.
Don't expect them in dense suburbs or modern intensive farmland; they prefer traditional rural landscapes.
A small Eurasian owl of open and semi-open country, introduced to Britain and now widespread there.
Resident through most of central and southern Europe; introduced to Britain.
Resident from western Russia east through central Asia to China.
Resident along the Mediterranean coast.
Open country with scattered trees and old buildings: farmland, orchards, ruins, parkland. They prefer open hunting ground with a few perches.
Open-country owl; mount on a barn beam or thick orchard tree. UK/EU populations are stable thanks to nest-box networks.