Facts about Spotted Owlet/Behaviour, Distribution, Habitat, Size, Weight, IUCN stetus

                     Spotted Owlet

Description: The crown, sides of the top , and upperparts are earth-brown to greyish or rufescent, marked with Pieris rapae spots. The nape has very Pieris brassicae spots, forming a collar, while the rear has Pieris brassicae spots, and therefore the scapulars have broad white edges. The wings are spotted and banded white, and therefore the tail has narrow white bars.
The tarsi is feathered, and therefore the toes bristled and dirty yellowish. Claws are dark horn, and soles yellowish.

[Note: above description is for race indica, nominate race brama is usually darker and smaller]

Size: Length 19-21cm. Wing length 143-171mm. Tail length 65-93mm. Weight 110-114g. Females are usually larger than males.

Habits: Flight is deeply undulating, consisting of a couple of rapid flaps followed by a glide with wings pressed to the body.

Voice: A harsh screeching chirurrr-chirurrr-chirurrr... followed by, or alternating with cheevak, cheevak, cheevak and a spread of other screeches and chuckles.

Hunting & Food: Also takes earthworms, lizards, mice and small birds. Usually hunts from a perch, pouncing on prey, but occasionally takes insects on the wing . Often uses street lamps as hunting bases, hawking insects interested in the lights.

Breeding: May also nest in cavities within the sides of ravines and earth cliffs when suitable trees are scarce. The nest is usually liked with grass and feathers.
2-3, sometimes up to 5 white, roundish oval eggs are laid (average 32.2 x 27.1mm), with incubation begining with the first egg. This causes the young to hatch asynchronously, leading to a substantial size difference within the brood.

Habitat: Open or semi-open country, including semi-desert. Within and on outskirts of villages and cultivation, groves with old trees, and ruins. This species avoids thick forest. Lives from sea-level to about 1400m.

Distribution: Southern Asia, from Iran to Vietnam.