Little Owl
Athene noctua
UK Conservation Status: Not Assessed
The current British little owl population dates from around 1874 when 40 continental birds were released in Kent. However, fossil evidence shows the species was present in Britain during the Early Pleistocene, making the historical introduction more of a reintroduction.
Since then, they have successfully established themselves all the way up to the Scottish border without apparently causing much harm to the native British fauna. Meanwhile, these owls have suffered almost catastrophic declines in parts of continental Europe, bringing them to the brink of extinction in some Central European countries. Recently, they’ve been declining in UK, too. This makes them well worth protecting here, regardless of their official status.
Unlike the similarly coloured but much larger tawny owl, the little owl is most active at dusk and dawn; it has striking yellow eyes. This species is the familiar symbol of Athena, goddess of wisdom (despite owls not being the smartest of birds), and its piercing stare can be easily appreciated on a variety of Greek coins from antiquity to present day.
Watching out for owls
Little owls have been seen at Long Meadow though we also have records from the Set-aside. Adults can be spotted throughout the year: so checking suitable basking and perching spots may bring a delightful sighting at almost any time!
What should you be looking for? The little owl is Britain's smallest owl, roughly the size of a blackbird, but somewhat chunkier. Its undulating flight is reminiscent of green woodpeckers, but slower and often low over the ground, with a notably shorter tail.
While the female incubates 3 to 4 eggs, the male will often stand guard on an elevated perch nearby. Later, when the young hatch, both parents fly back and forth from the nest to provide food for the hungry offspring, making it particularly enjoyable to observe their hunting habits.
Habitat
Little owls prefer diverse, extensive farmland that offers a combination of old trees and hedges for shelter and nesting cavities, and open grassy areas with bits of bare ground where they can hunt. All this ideally crammed into a relatively small territory – the further they must fly between the nest and the hunting grounds, the lower the chances of providing enough food for their young.
They mainly prey on small mammals, earthworms and large insects. When the young are about to fledge in late June, you can often see them perching on dead branches, skilfully chasing any summer chafer that dares to fly too close. When other prey is scarce, they may turn to hunting smaller birds. No wonder our blackbirds and robins often announce the presence of a little owl by a cacophony of alarm calls – a useful clue when you are out birdwatching just before sunset hoping to spot one.