Glaucidium cuculoides
The Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) is a small yet stout-bodied owl, typically measuring 23-27 cm (9-11 in) in length with a wingspan of 45-48 cm (18-19 in) and weighing between 150-240g. Its plumage is predominantly rich brown on the upperparts, heavily barred with rufous-brown, while the underparts are pale with dense rufous or dark barring. Distinctive field marks include striking white eyebrows, piercing yellow eyes, and crucially, two prominent dark patches on the nape resembl...
Primarily inhabits diverse forest types, including broadleaf, coniferous, and mixed woodlands, as well as plantations and dense scrubland, often tolerating proximity to human habitation. It thrives across a wide elevation range, from lowlands up to approximately 3000 meters in montane regions.
An opportunistic and voracious predator, its diet consists of large insects (e.g., beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers), small birds (passerines), small mammals (rodents, shrews), lizards, and frogs, procured through agile hunting.
This owlet is strikingly diurnal, actively hunting and calling from early morning through late afternoon, though it also engages in crepuscular activity; it typically roosts quietly in dense foliage or tree cavities. Its foraging strategy is primarily 'perch-and-pounce,' where it watches from a p...
The Asian Barred Owlet is a widespread resident species found across a significant portion of South and Southeast Asia. Its distribution extends from the sub-Himalayan regions of northern Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, eastward through Bangladesh and Myanmar, into southern China. The range c...
Least Concern
- It is one of the most diurnal owl species, frequently observed hunting in broad daylight, unlike many of its nocturnal relatives. - The striking 'false eyes' on the back of its head are thought to be an evolutionary adaptation, tricking predators into thinking the owl is always watching. - Desp...