Wildlife Garden DecoBird Little Owl 18.1 cm hand-carved & hand-painted

At a glance

• hand-carved and hand-painted little owl made of linden wood
• Model: Little owl (Athene noctua)
• characteristic compact owl shape with large yellow eyes
• detailed plumage structure
• hand-painted with water-based paint
• Dimensions: 7.5 × 11.5 × 18.1 cm
• Weight: approx. 276 g
• for indoor use
• includes a booklet with information about the bird species

Product details

• Brand: Wildlife Garden
• Series: DecoBird
• Bird species: Little owl
• Scientific name: Athene noctua
• Item number: WG455
• EAN: 7350054760690
• Material: Linden wood
• Paint: Water-based paint
• Length: 7.5 cm
• Width: 11.5 cm
• Height: 18.1 cm
• Weight: approx. 276 g
• Usage: Indoor
• Packaging: closed cardboard box
• Other: Booklet with information about the bird species

Small, compact, and with a decidedly alert gaze

The little owl is one of the smaller owl species. What it lacks in body size, it easily makes up for with its expression.

The compact body, the broad head, and above all the large, forward-facing eyes give it that typical, attentive owl look. Wildlife Garden has captured these exact features beautifully in its hand-carved DecoBird.

The little owl – Athene noctua

The scientific name of the little owl tells a story in itself. In Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, and the owl became her companion and symbol.

This connection between the owl and wisdom has remained in our culture to this day. The little owl is therefore not only interesting from an ornithological perspective but also possesses a cultural-historical significance that spans millennia.

A small owl of the open landscape

Little owls prefer open and diverse landscapes with suitable perches and cavities for nesting. Old trees, orchards, pastures, and agricultural areas can provide them with suitable habitats.

Unlike an owl that one might imagine living exclusively deep in the forest, the little owl is strongly associated with open, cultivated landscapes.

Hunting from an elevated vantage point

A typical behavior of the little owl is the use of elevated perches. From there, it observes its surroundings and keeps a lookout for prey.

Its diet includes insects, earthworms, and small vertebrates. This little owl can be active at dusk and night, as well as during other times of the day.

Its upright and attentive posture is therefore particularly well-suited for representation as a DecoBird.

18.1 cm tall and 276 grams in weight

The hand-carved figure measures 7.5 × 11.5 × 18.1 cm and weighs around 276 g.

The weight is important information for the little owl. In a product photo, an 18 cm tall wooden figure can quickly appear smaller and lighter than it actually is. At 276 g, this DecoBird has significant substance.

The little owl can therefore easily stand alone on a sideboard, bookshelf, desk, or dresser.

Hand-carved from linden wood

Wildlife Garden crafts the little owl by hand from linden wood. This finely and evenly textured wood is one of the classic carving woods and is very well suited for figurative work.

The plumage sections are sculpted in relief, and the figure is subsequently painted by hand with water-based paints.

Especially with an owl, the interplay between carving and painting is important: the various shades of brown, cream, and gray should look natural, while the eyes and head determine the bird's characteristic expression.

Due to the artisanal production process, small differences in wood structure, carving, and painting may occur. They are part of the individual character of every DecoBird.

Little owl and barn owl – two completely different owls

Side by side, the two DecoBirds demonstrate beautifully how different owls can look.

The barn owl features its light, heart-shaped facial disc and a comparatively slim appearance. The little owl looks more compact and stocky and has the typical broad owl head with large, striking eyes.

Both are immediately recognizable as owls – and yet they are hard to confuse with one another.

For indoor use

For our current product description, we list the hand-carved little owl as a decorative figure for indoor use.

At 18.1 cm tall and weighing 276 g, it does not require much space, but it possesses enough presence to stand out even without other DecoBirds.

With information about the bird species

Included with the DecoBird is a booklet with information about the little owl. The figure is delivered in a closed cardboard box.

In this way, Wildlife Garden combines the hand-carved wooden figure with information about the real bird that served as the model for this model as well.

My assessment

I like the little owl precisely because Wildlife Garden didn't need to make it larger or more dramatic than it actually is. Its compact shape and that focused owl gaze are more than enough.

At 276 g, the figure still has a decent amount of substance. Of course, when buying online, you only realize this once you know the number – which is why, for me, the weight definitely belongs at the forefront.

And then there is the name Athene noctua. The fact that this particular little owl has been linked to Athena, and thus to the symbol of wisdom, since antiquity gives the figure a story that goes far beyond simple bird decoration.