Which bird of prey appears on the reverse of Greece’s €1 coin?

The little owl appears on the reverse of Greece’s €1 coin.

The coin design shows an ancient Athenian silver tetradrachm featuring the owl associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Greece selected this historical image for the euro coin rather than depicting a modern wildlife scene.

The little owl, Athene noctua, was a familiar bird in ancient Greece and became linked with Athena through its Greek name and nocturnal habits. Ancient coins from Athens frequently used the owl alongside an olive branch and the inscription ΑΘΕ, referring to Athens.

Modern little owls are small, compact owls found across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. They often hunt insects, small mammals, and reptiles. The coin’s owl is a cultural representation of the species, not a claim that the bird is exclusive to Greece.