Jungle Owlet

Description:

This fellow was sitting on a branch above me. Lots of minivets were making a ruckus and that is why I went to check. This small owlet has a rounded head and is finely barred all over. There is no clear facial disk and the wings are brownish and the tail is narrowly barred in white. The plumage on the upper parts is dark black brown barred with white. The wing coverts have white and rufous patches. The primaries and secondaries are dark brown and barred with pale chestnut. The lower side is whitish or pale rufous barred with black. There is a whitish patch on the chin, upper breast and centre of the abdomen. The iris is yellow, the bill and tarsi are greenish with black claws.

Habitat:

Seen at 5000 Ft ASL.

Notes:

They roost inside tree cavities and when disturbed they freeze and appear like a dead tree stump. They sometimes perch prominently on wires or bask in the morning sun before retiring to their roost. This owlet is mainly active at dawn and dusk, but is known to call and fly during the daytime as well.