THE LITTLE OWL
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The
aptly named Little Owl is Britain’s smallest owl and with a
wingspan of less than 60cms and weighing a maximum of
230gms, is just about the size of a mistle thrush. But its
aggressive expression, accentuated by pronounced eye ridges
and a relatively undeveloped facial disk, makes this tiny
predator appear fierce out of all proportion to its size.
Often active during the daytime, Little Owls prefer to live
in open country with plenty of hedgerows, parkland and
orchards, though they avoid dense woodland. With a call
that is a sharp ‘keew keew’, the Little Owl can be often be
seen perching on a tree branch, telegraph pole or rock,
from where it will drop down onto its prey. For most of the
year the Little Owl’s diet consists mainly of large
insects, earthworms and a few small mammals. However,
during the breeding season, this is supplemented with small
birds such as sparrows and thrushes.
The Little Owl characteristically bobs its head up and down
when alarmed. Nests include holes in trees & walls and
in the ground, including rabbit burrows. In flight the
Little Owl has long, rounded wings, rapid wingbeats and
flies with a slight undulation.
Whilst the Little Owl is now native to Britain, it is only
a recent arrival, having been introduced by man in the late
nineteenth century from Europe. Numbers grew rapidly and
reached a peak in the 1930’s but since then, the population
has declined, due largely to loss of habitat, pesticide
poisoning and – because of its largely diurnal habits –
persecution and collisions with road traffic.