Jungle Owlet

Photos by >Dr. Dilip K G

Some curated info from our friends at The Peregrine Fund:

The Jungle Owlet is found throughout most of the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found in the following countries: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. It likes to spend its time in deciduous jungles, foothills, areas of scrub and bamboo, and can sometimes even be found near agricultural fields.

The Jungle Owlet is a stunning little raptor. It has a round head and lacks ear tufts. It has bright yellow eyes, and its legs are covered in feathers nearly down to the toes. This lovely owl is a mix of brown, rufous, white, and cream. It has a lovely reddish patch on its underwing which is quite conspicuous when it flies. Its facial disk isn't as obvious as many other owl species, but it does have one of course! This owl's facial disc is finely barred with beige and brown.

[T]he Jungle Owlet is considered a crepuscular species. This means it is most active about one hour before dusk and one hour after sunrise.

The Jungle Owlet is an insect connoisseur. It feeds on a variety of these invertebrates including beetles, locusts, grasshoppers, and cicadas. But its diet doesn't stop there. This small owl will also feed on reptiles, such as lizards, small birds, and small mammals, such as rodents.

Another summary I saw said that the Jungle Owlet lived in secondary forest, a term I've seen, but didn't really know what it meant. I found a nice article describing primary and secondary forests with good descriptions and photos.

If you'd like to read that, you can find it here: Rainforest Journal - Differences between primary and secondary rainforest