Little Owl

Athene noctua

Photo by nigelblake

Identification

The commonest of the smaller owls and widespread in Europe from Iberia east to the Urals and Caspian, in the north reaching Denmark and the southern shores of the Baltic. Introduced to Britain and now established north to southern Scotland. Occurs virtually all around the Mediterranean and on most islands, throughout the Caucasus and Turkey, south to Iraq and parts of the Middle East. Also found throughout North-West Africa and much of central and southern Algeria, coastal Libya and at scattered oases in the interior, the Tibesti region of Chad and in the Nile Valley. Has bred in southern Sweden and possibly on the Balearics.

Resident throughout range with short-distance dispersal of juveniles.

Vagrants recorded in Ireland, Fenno-Scandia, Estonia and on Malta and the Canary Islands.

Subspecies Several races occur in the Region differing slightly in size, ground colour and markings but there is much intergradation. Nominate noctua is found over much of southern Europe from Corsica and Sardinia east to the Carpathians. Race indigena from South-East Europe, southern Russia, Turkey to the Caucasus and in the Middle East is paler and more russet above and west European vidalii is the darkest race, colder brown above, and occurs from Iberia to Poland and the Baltic States and also introduced to Britain. Paler races occur further south with glaux from North Africa to southern Israel rather rufous above and variable saharae from more inland areas of North Africa which can be rufous, sandy or greyish and bactriana from the south-east of Region in Azerbaijan resembles indigena but paler. Arabian race lilith is the palest, very pale buff above and barely streaked below.

Habitat Farmland with hedgrowsn copses and scattered trees, also rocky hillsides and semideserts. Particularly fond of old orchards and pollarded trees affording nest holes.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Athene noctua (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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