The Asian barred owlet, or glaucidium cuculoides, is a small-sized, rotund owl which belongs to the family Strigidae. It is a chocolate brown bird with a rounded head and absent ear tufts. It is extensively and evenly barred all over its body and hence its name – ‘barred owlet’. It has a yellow beak, chrome yellow feet and beautiful luminescent, yellow eyes that glow in the dark.
As its name suggests, the Asian barred owlet is found only in Asia – in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam. In India it ranges across north and central and northeast parts of the country. It prefers forests of pine and oak at higher elevations and inhabits subtropical and tropical evergreen jungles at lower elevations. It is sometimes found in gardens and parks as well.
It eats beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas and other large insects as well as lizards, mice and small birds. It has been observed hunting quail by grabbing it mid-air in a hawk-like move. Unlike other typical owls, this bird is diurnal and is found perched on branches or tree stumps in broad sunshine or hunting during the day. It is a non-migratory resident bird that will sometimes kill other birds and take over their nests for breeding. The female is generally larger than the male and lays up to 4 white eggs, which she incubates over 4 weeks.
This bird is also known as the cuckoo owlet. Its call is a long series of mellow toots which is mostly heard at night. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List and is one of the few owl species whose population has actually increased over the years!
Picture Credit : Google
