Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

The pearl-spotted owlet is an owl that breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.
Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) Tsavo West NP, Kenya. Mar 3, 2023 Geotagged,Glaucidium perlatum,Kenya,Summer,pearl spotted owlet

Appearance

The pearl-spotted owlet is small and stocky, with a longish tail. The upperparts are rich brown, heavily spotted with white. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is white and the eyes are yellow. There are two eyespots on the nape.

Sexes are similar, but young birds are paler with a shorter tail. The flight is deeply undulating.
Pearl-spotted Owlet flying, Kenya  Geotagged,Glaucidium perlatum,Kenya,Pearl-spotted Owlet,Winter

Behavior

This species often hunts by day, and can be readily located by the small birds that mob it while it is perched in a tree. It hunts a variety of small prey, including birds. The call is a whistled "tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu".
Pearl-spotted Owlet in Namibia We were camping in Namibia at a wilderness camp and this one was in a tree not far from our tent. It is hard to see owls in the wild so I was thrilled to see this one - a rather small owl but with that sense of mystery and majesty that all owls have. Geotagged,Glaucidium perlatum,Namibia,Spring,namibia,pearl spotted owlet

Reproduction

The pearl-spotted owlet is a common and easily seen bird in open woodland and savannah. It nests in a hole in a tree, such as a disused barbet nest, laying 2-4 eggs.

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Status: Least concern
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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderStrigiformes
FamilyStrigidae
GenusGlaucidium
SpeciesG. perlatum