Little owl

(Athene noctua)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 7 500 – 10 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

Widespread throughout the country with the exception of some predominantly forested or high mountain areas – especially in the Rila-Rhodope Massif, Sashtinska Sredna Gora, Vitosha, Central and Western Stara Planina and others.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Predominantly synanthropic species breeds mainly in towns, villages and industrial zones, but in a number of places also on inland cliffs and exposed rocks, often in loess walls, stone quarries, abandoned buildings, etc. Rarely breeds on the edge of broad-leaved deciduous forests, and in the mountains – in coniferous forests and mixed forests.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed