Scientific name: Glaucidium passerinum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Owls
Field characters. 17 cm. Smallest owl in the region. Head smaller and rounder than Little Owl. Upperparts brown with numerous white spots, underparts white with dark spots and streaks. Face dark, spotted white and bordered with narrow white bars; eyes yellow. Keeps flirting its tail. Flight undulating, like small woodpecker. Partly diurnal.
Voice. Bullfinch-like 'pjuu'.
Distribution. Resident. Common in north, but scarce in centre and east of region.
Habitat. Pine woods, sometimes interspersed with deciduous trees.
Food. Small birds and mammals. Hunts mainly during dawn and dusk.