British wildlife recordings

Athene noctua : Little Owl - Strigidae

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:02:08

  • Shelf mark

    W1CDR0001464 BD7

  • Subjects

    Birds

  • Recording date

    1977/04/02

  • Recording locations

    Pinbury Park, Gloucestershire: OS Grid Reference(395500,204500)

  • Recordist

    Williams, Aubrey John

  • Species

    Little Owl, Athene noctua

  • Description

    The advertising call of the male little owl recorded at Pinbury Park, Gloucestershire. The little owl is Britain’s smallest owl and was introduced during the 19th century. Usually seen on farmland containing copses or edged with hedges and trees, this owl can be seen all through the day across England and Wales. Hunting at both dawn and dusk, little owls favour small mammals, birds, and invertebrates. Males produce a single ‘woop’ hoot, although the sharp ‘keew keew’ is the most common call to be heard. They are similar in size to a starling and can be identified by their grey-brown upperparts covered in white dots and heavily streaked front.

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