06. Owlet

The little owl, whose scientific name is Athene noctua, has been considered since the ancient Greeks as a bird that represents intelligence. For this reason its name refers to the goddess Athena, Greek goddess of fertility, strategy, intelligence and war. Owlets have that yellow look, which lightens with age, reminding us that they are smart and lively birds. They feed on insects, especially grasshoppers and beetles, and are not averse to the odd mouse or mole. They have feathered talons and, like good nocturnal raptors, have a silent and discreet flight. Their plumage is very cryptic and they mimic the branches of olive trees and holm oaks where they nest in hollows in the trunks. They have regular roosts, where they can be seen scanning the horizon at sunset. Although they are nocturnal birds, they are diurnal and can be seen active in broad daylight. Little owls are suffering a lot from the poisoning of the countryside because they are intoxicated by the insects they eat. For this reason they are perfect bio-indicators and their presence assures us that we are in places of ecological quality. There is no difference between males and females. Younger specimens have yellower eyes and sometimes they have more clumsy movements in their hunts, which they perfect with age. They are very small in size, being one of the most humble and modest birds of prey.