View source for Little owl

{{Speciesbox
| image = Mochuelo Común ( Athene noctua )(1).jpg
| image_caption =
| image2 = Athene noctua - Little Owl XC309481.mp3
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn | author = BirdLife International | author-link = BirdLife International | title = ''Athene noctua'' | volume= 2012 | page = e.T22689328A40420964 | year = 2012 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22689328A40420964.en }}</ref>
| genus = Athene
| species = noctua
| authority = ([[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli|Scopoli]], 1769)
| synonyms = ''Carine noctua''
| range_map = Steinkauz-Athene noctua-World.png
| range_map_caption = Range of the little owl
}}
[[File:Athene noctua vidalii MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.156.1.jpg|thumb|''Athene noctua vidalii'']]
The '''little owl''' (''Athene noctua'') is a [[bird]] that lives in  the 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.

This owl is a member of the [[Strigidae]], which contains most species of owl. The other group is the barn owls, [[Tytonidae]]. 

The little owl is a small, mainly [[nocturnal]] species. It is found in a range of [[habitats]] such as [[farmland]], [[woodland]] fringes, [[steppe]]s and semi-[[deserts]]. It is [[camouflage]]d, and especially hard to see if the background is wood or stone covered with [[lichen]].<ref>Little owls win photgrapher's heart. ''BBC News''. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/46829284/essex-little-owls-win-wildlife-photographer-s-affection]</ref> It feeds on insects, earthworms, other [[invertebrates]] and small vertebrates such as [[mice]] and [[shrews]]. 

Males have territories which they defend against intruders. This owl is a 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.

There are thirteen recognized [[subspecies]] of little owl spread across Europe and Asia.<ref name="könig">{{cite book|author=König C; Weick F. & Becking J-H.|title=Owls of the world|edition=2|publisher=A&C Black |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7136-6548-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rnz1c8olgWcC&q=%22little+owl%22}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Strigiformes]]
[[Category:National symbols of Greece]]