• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Owlets found in India
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Sno. Name Binomial Name 1 Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides 2 Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus 3 Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei 4 Forest Owlet Athena blewitti 5 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum 6 Little Owl Athena noctua 7 Spotted Owlet Athena brama
©www.ogaclicks.com Asian Barred Owlet identification Tips Asian Barred Owlet: Glaucidium cuculoides : Resident of Himalayas & North East India Crown & head are Grey-Brown barred buff
Whitish eyebrows Bright yellow eyes
Bill is yellow-green, darker on Cere White patches on throat
Dark brown upperparts, barred buff to fulvous
Scapulars edged buff-white, forming row of spots down sides of back Underparts are barred dark and light
Wings are dark brown and barred
Legs are greyish-yellow or dull horn-green
Tail is dark brown, barred white
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Boreal Owl identification Tips Boreal Owl : Aegolius funereus: Vagrant in India ( Jammu& Kashmir) Crown & head are umber-brown with numerous small white spots
Whitish eyebrows
Bright yellow eyes
Bill is waxy yellow to Facial disc grayish-white, framed by brown-black border horn
Umber-brown upperparts with large white spots and blotches
Wing coverts brown, with white spots Underparts are cream- white broadly streaked with brown to russet Wings are dark brown with 5 rows of white spots
Legs are white Tail is dark brown, with 3 rows of white spots
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Collared Owlet identification Tips Collared Owlet : Glaucidium brodiei: Resident of Himalayas & North East India Crown & head are spotted creamy-buff Staring “dorsal face” on nape Front Whitish eyebrows
Bright yellow eyes
Cere greenish to Umber-brown upperparts bluish; bill greenish- with large white spots yellow, darkest at base and blotches
Breast is barred Scapulars tipped white, forming interrupted lines down sides of mantle
Wing coverts are barred dark brown and buff Belly sides streaked
Flight-feathers barred Vertical tear-drop dark brown and buff marks on underparts
Back Tail barred dark brown and buff
Legs are greenish-yellow.
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Forest Owlet identification Tips Forest Owlet : Athena blewitti : Resident of Western Central Indian hills Crown & head are grey-brown with faint, sparse pale spots
Whitish eyebrows
Bright yellow eyes
Bill is yellowish or Facial disc mostly white with fine light brown barring with black border greenish-horn
Brown scapulars marked with large white Breast uniform spots grey-brown
Wing coverts brown, with white spots
Upper flanks broadly barred dark brown Wings are dark brown with broad bars of dark White Underbelly brown and white
White tarsal feathers Tail is dark brown, with broad bars of dark brown and white
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Jungle Owlet identification Tips Jungle Owlet : Glaucidium radiatum: Resident of Western Central Indian hills Crown & head are Grey-Brown barred buff Bright yellow eyes Whitish eyebrows Cere bluish; bill greenish-yellow to yellowish-grey Facial disc Facial disc barred brown and cream
White moustachial area White Chin Dark Brown upperparts barred rufous
Scapulars edged buff-white, forming row Breast barred dark of spots down sides of back olive-brown and white Wing coverts brown, barred Upper flanks broadly barred dark brown Wings are Rufous with dark barring Toes greenish-yellow; soles yellowish
Tail is dark brown, with broad bars of dark brown and white
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Little Owl identification Tips Little Owl : Athena noctua : Resident of Himalayas ( Ladhak) in India Crown & head are Grey-Brown with white spots Bright yellow eyes
Whitish eyebrows Yellow bill Facial disc grey with dark border White moustachial area
White Chin Grey-brown upperparts spotted white
Underparts are pale and streaked with darker color Wing coverts brown, with white edges
Wings are brown with white fringes
Legs are long, feathered, Tail is dark brown, with pale yellowish to white broad bars of dark brown and white
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Spotted Owlet identification Tips Spotted Owlet : Athena bramha : Widespread Resident in India Crown & head are Grey-Brown with white spots Bright yellow eyes
Whitish eyebrows Cere greenish; bill greenish-horn, Darkish facial disc bordered with white yellower on culmen
Broad white gorget Grey-brown upperparts spotted white
Breast creamy-white with short dark grey to brownish bars Wing coverts brown, with mottled or spotted white
Underbelly creamy- Wings are brown white with faint short mottled or spotted dark grey to white brownish bars
Tarsi long and thin, with short feathers to base of Tail is dark brown toes, toes yellowish-green
Both the sexes similar Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com