Athene noctua -- (Scopoli, 1769)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- STRIGIFORMES -- STRIGIDAECommon names: Little Owl; Chouette chevêche

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe.

Within the EU27 this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Finland; Ireland, Rep. of; Malta; Norway; Sweden

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 618,000-1,170,000 pairs, which equates to 1,240,000-2,340,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 218,000-412,000 pairs, which equates to 436,000-823,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size is estimated to be stable. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 13.2 years (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and Ecology

The species is found in a variety of habitats, ranging from parkland, orchards and cultivated fields with hedges to rocky, semi-desert regions and steppes (Mikkola 1983) and extends from boreal to tropical areas. It is monogamous and breeds from March to August. The nest is built in a cavity and the hole is cleaned and scraped but will also use nest boxes. Clutches are usually three to six eggs (Holt et al. 2014). It feeds on insects, small rodents and plant matter. Birds and frogs are an important food source during the nesting season (Mikkola 1983). The species is sedentary although large displacements do occur (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Rural Gardens suitable residentArtificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable residentGrassland - Temperate suitable residentShrubland - Boreal suitable residentShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable residentAltitude max. 1100 m Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats

Population levels can suffer marked decreases after severe winters. Its range has contracted locally in many parts of Europe, which is thought to be mainly due to habitat changes, including the loss of suitable nest-sites and, less often, the use of pesticides. Industrialised farming practices have resulted in a reduction of prey items such as voles and earthworms. Agricultural intensification, ground clearance, excessive use of toxic chemicals and road traffic deaths all contribute to declines as well (Holt et al. 2014). The loss of nest holes from the felling of old hollow trees and the restoration of old buildings is also likely to affect the species (Tucker and Heath 1994).

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Agriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Climate change & severe weather

Temperature extremes

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations

Past Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

Residential & commercial development

Commercial & industrial areas

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem degradation

Transportation & service corridors

Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Conservation

Conservation Actions Underway

CITES Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. The species is listed as ‘endangered’ on the Dutch national Red List (Hustings et al. 2004). The provision of nest boxes and pollarding of old nesting trees has been successful in Belgium and Germany at offsetting declines (Holt et al. 2014).

Conservation Actions Proposed

Measures should address conservation at the wider countryside scale. The preservation of the species’s habitat, including old trees and hedges, as well as the reduction in the use of pesticides are important. Organochloride pesticides should be replaced with less aggressive products or biological pest control methods. The provision of nest boxes should continue. The maintenance of perches near roads (2 m high, 10–15 m apart and 5 m from the road), is advisable to help reduce car-collisions. Further research into habitat requirements, population size and trends and threats is required (Tucker and Heath 1994).

BibliographyHolt, W., Berkley, R., Deppe, C., Enríquez Rocha, P., Petersen, J.L., Rangel Salazar, J.L., Segars, K.P., Wood, K.L., Kirwan, G.M. and Christie, D.A. 2014. Little Owl (Athene noctua). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/55092 on 10 March 2015).Hustings, F., Borggreve, C., van Turnhout, C. and Thissen, J. 2004. Basisrapport voor de Rode Lijst Vogels volgens Nederlandse en IUCN-criteria. SOVON-onderzoeksrapport 2004/13. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland, Beek-Ubbergen.Mikkola, H. 1983. Owls of Europe. Christopher Helm, London.Tucker, G.M. and Heath, M.F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3, BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Map (see overleaf)