The little owl (Athene noctua) is Britain's smallest resident owl and the only one commonly seen hunting in daylight. Introduced to England from the European continent in the 19th century, it has declined by approximately 45% since the mid-1990s, raising conservation concerns and placing it on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern.
Little owls favour lowland farmland with traditional features: orchards, hedgerows, stone walls, mature pollarded trees, and rough grassland. They are largely crepuscular but frequently hunt in daylight, perching prominently on fence posts, telegraph poles, and low branches. Diet is predominantly invertebrates (earthworms, beetles, moths) supplemented by small mammals and birds. Unlike tawny or barn owls, little owls nest in cavities rather than open nest sites — a key factor in their management.
The British Trust for Ornithology Little Owl Survey has provided valuable population data and habitat association information. Citizen science data from BTO BirdTrack and Garden BirdWatch also contributes to monitoring. Nest cameras installed in little owl boxes provide detailed breeding data on productivity and diet.