Little Owl: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Owls and Night Birds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. This owl was the bird of Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom. It appeared on a coin from 500 BC, and a copy is on today's Greek one-euro coin.
2. White eyebrows over its yellow eyes give the little owl a stern, frowning look.
3. Watch it fly: it bounces up and down through the air, a lot like a woodpecker.
4. Unlike many owls, it is often out in the daytime, perching boldly in full view. Near people, it can get used to them and stay put.
5. A male can tell its neighbours apart by their voices. It defends its patch harder against a stranger than against a male it knows.

The quiz

1. Which Greek goddess is the little owl linked to?

• Aphrodite
• Athena (correct)
• Hera
• Artemis

It was the bird of Athena, goddess of wisdom.

2. What gives the little owl its stern look?

• A red beak
• Long ear tufts
• Black eye patches
• White eyebrows (correct)

Its white eyebrows make it look as if it is frowning.

3. Which bird does the little owl's bouncing flight resemble?

• A woodpecker (correct)
• A hummingbird
• A swan
• A penguin

It has a bounding flight like a woodpecker.

4. When can you often spot a little owl perched in the open?

• Only on moonless nights
• Only in deep winter
• During the day (correct)
• Never, it lives underground

It is partly active by day and often perches boldly in view.

5. How does a male little owl recognise familiar neighbours?

• By their colour
• By their voice (correct)
• By their smell
• By their nest

Little owls can recognise birds they know by voice.

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