Most abundant owl

Of the various owl species whose total world numbers have been scientifically estimated, the most numerous species is the little owl Athene noctua. Native to much of temperate Europe as well as northern Africa, and Asia eastwards to the Korean peninsula, it has been estimated to number some 5,000,000–15,000,000 individuals worldwide.

Other very abundant species include the tawny owl Strix aluco, with an estimated total world population of 2,000,000–6,000,000 individuals; the short-eared owl Asio flammeus (2,000,000 = a minimum estimate); the boreal owl Aegolius funereus (1,700,000 = a minimum estimate); and the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops (1,000,000–3,000,000).