Spotted Owlet
Athene brama
Summary 2
The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) is a small owl which breeds in tropical Asia from India to Southeast Asia. A common resident of open habitats including farmland and human habitation, it has adapted to living in cities. They roost in small groups in the hollows of trees or in cavities in rocks or buildings. It nests in a hole in a tree or building, laying 3–5 eggs. The species is absent from Sri Lanka, although the...
Behaviour 3
"Chiefly crepuscular and nocturnal. This little bird is the commonest and most familiar of our owls. It affects every type of country in the plains and foothills except heavy forest, and is particularly abundant in the neighbourhood of human habitations. It is fearless and confiding and regards Man with complete unconcern. In many localities almost every ancient tamarind, banyan or mango tree holds its resident pair or two of these owlets, and one has but to tap on the trunk to bring forth an enquiring little face to the entrance of a hollow, -or to dislodge a pair sitting huddled together on some secluded branch. The birds often fly out fussily to a neighbouring branch when the tree is approached, whence they bob and stare at the intruder in clownish fashion. It is largely of crepuscular and nocturnal habits, perhaps not so much because of intolerance to sunlight—since it is often abroad and even hunting at mid-day—but on account of the persecution and chivvying it is invariably subjected to by other birds immediately it shows itself. At dusk these owlets may be seen perched on fence-posts, telegraph wires and the like, pouncing from time to time upon some unwary insect on the ground, or flying across noiselessly from one perch to another. Occasionally it launches ungainly aerial sallies after winged termites capturing them in its claws, and it will sometimes even hover clumsily like a kestrel to espy creeping prey. Its food consists mainly of beetles and other insects, but small mice, birds and lizards are also taken. - They are noisy birds and have a large variety of harsh chattering, squabbling and chuckling notes, two individuals frequently combining in a duet."
Sources and Credits
- (c) Saurabh Agrawal, all rights reserved, uploaded by Saurabh Agrawal
- Adapted by c michael hogan from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athene_brama
- (c) India Biodiversity Portal, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/26325638
