Europe's second smallest owl, after Pygmy Owl, this species is only c.20cm in length and 6 races are recognised. All are largely migratory in nature and winter in Africa and Middle-East. Food is chiefly insects caught on the wing (particularly moths) but reptiles and small birds are occasionally taken. There are some Irish records of this species including one from Cape Clear in May 1999. This one was photographed roosting in Lesvos during the day.
Africa (entire continent rather than south of Sahara)
AN
Antarctica
AO
Atlantic Ocean
AU
Australasia (Wallacea (Indonesian islands east of Wallace's line), New Guinea and its islands, Australia, New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu)
PAL
Eurasia (Europe, Asia from the Middle East through central Asia north of the Himalayas, Siberia and northern China to Japan)
IO
Indian Ocean
LA
Latin America (Middle and South America)
MA
Middle America (Mexico through Panama)
NA
North America (includes the Caribbean)
NO
Northern oceans
OR
Oriental Region (South Asia from Pakistan to Taiwan, plus Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Greater Sundas)