Pearl-spotted owlet

Pearl-spotted owlet
In Etosha National Park
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Glaucidium
Species: G. perlatum
Binomial name
Glaucidium perlatum
(Vieillot, 1817)

The pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) is an owl that breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.

The pearl-spotted owlet is a common and easily seen bird in open woodland and savannah. It nests in a hole in a tree, such as a disused barbet nest, laying 2-4 eggs.

The pearl-spotted owlet is small (19 cm) and stocky, with a longish tail. The upperparts are rich brown, heavily spotted with white. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is white and the eyes are yellow. There are two eyespots on the nape.

Sexes are similar, but young birds are paler with a shorter tail. The flight is deeply undulating.

This species often hunts by day, and can be readily located by the small birds that mob it while it is perched in a tree. It hunts a variety of small prey, including birds.[2] The call is a whistled tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Glaucidium perlatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Denker, Anja (July 25, 2013). "Its a bird eat bird world". Birds. Africa Geographic. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

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