Originally from the warmer parts of Europe, Central Asia and Northern Africa, the little owl is a non native species and was introduced into the United Kingdom in the late 1800’s and the South island of New Zealand in the early 1900’s. They are ‘daytime owls’, meaning they are active during daylight and often perch in the open. They have excellent eye sight. Their retina has lots of rods for night vision and enough cone cells for vision in daylight. Using perches near nests in open buildings, rock formations, natural savannah, cliffs and gorges. They like to eat insects, small mammals, birds and reptiles. They are all-year round residents of their habitats but become less active in the daytime after the chicks have fledged.