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Body length: 16-19 cm
Wingspan: 35 cm
Body mass: 50-75 g (females larger than males)
Appearance: very small (starling-sized) owl with yellow eyes and smallish, rounded head.
Europe’s smallest resident owl, with main Polish strongholds in Białowieża Forest, as well as mountain spruce forests of south. Most often nests in hole first excavated by great spotted woodpecker. Main diet of rodents and birds, with great boldness ensuring that prey items include blackbirds larger than itself! Twilight- and day-active. Breeding sites subject to zone protection.
Descriptions drawing on content of Ptaki Polski (“Birds of Poland”) - a book authored by Andrzej G. Kruszewicz, and published by MULTICO Oficyna Wydawnicza Sp. z o.o.
