Birds
Sýček obecný
athene noctua
IUCN Red ListLeast Concern
Sýček obecný
- Description
- A small, compact owl 21–23 cm long, with a wingspan of 54–58 cm and a weight of 160–250 g. It has a flat-topped head without ear tufts, piercing yellow eyes and greyish-brown plumage speckled with white. Often active in daylight, it bobs and swivels its head when curious or alarmed.
- Habitat
- Open countryside — pastures, orchards, steppe, semi-desert and the edges of human settlements across Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.
- Diet
- Insects, earthworms, small rodents, lizards and small birds.
- Reproduction
- Nests in tree holes, walls and burrows; the female lays 3–5 eggs, incubated for about 28–29 days.
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity.
- Did you know?
- In Greek mythology the little owl was the sacred bird of Athena, goddess of wisdom — a link preserved in its scientific name, Athene noctua.
Homeland & habitat
Where the sýček obecný lives
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Europe, North Africa and AsiaThe little owl inhabits open countryside, pastures and orchards across Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.
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Native rangeIntroduced / also today
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10 facts about the sýček obecný
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Conservation status
Species vulnerability index
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
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