Little Owl

"Lily"

Lily was born in 2018 and is the youngest member of our team (and probably the loudest!) She has a lot of character and with that amazing 'look' she gives you, she acts like she can take on the world.

Territory/Location

Temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and North Africa. It was introduced into Britain at the end of the nineteenth century and into the South Island of New Zealand in the early twentieth century.

Habitat

Farmland, woodland fringes, steppes and semi-deserts.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

Diet

Insects, earthworms, other invertebrates and small vertebrates.

Life Expectancy

Up to 16 Years

Average 3 Years

Nesting

Cavity nester and a clutch of about four eggs is laid in spring. The female does the incubation and the male brings food to the nest, first for the female and later for the newly hatched young. As the chicks grow, both parents hunt and bring them food, and the chicks leave the nest at about seven weeks of age.

SCIENTIFIC

CLASSIFICATION

KINGDOM

Animalia

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Strigiformes

FAMILY

Strigidae

GENUS

Athene

SPECIES

a.noctua

Did you know?

The little owl is partly diurnal and often perches boldly and prominently during the day. If living in an area with a large amount of human activity, little owls may grow used to humans and will remain on their perch, often in full view, while people are around.