A tiny but mighty guardian of central India’s dry forest. It’s compact and chunky in shape with a noticeably large head and beak. Its feathers are a masterclass in camouflage—dark gray-brown above with a pale face, while the underparts sport bold bands of brown and white that help it vanish against tree trunks and dappled foliage. Unlike its close cousin, the widespread Spotted Owlet, this rare bird lacks spots on its crown and sports thickly feathered legs, a full white throat collar, and an unspotted head that gives it a distinct look.

What truly sets the Forest Owlet apart are its behaviors and survival story. After being described in 1873, it vanished—assumed extinct—until its dramatic rediscovery in 1997 in the Satpura foothills. Today, it lives in scattered dry deciduous forests and teak woods of central India—places like Maharashtra, parts of Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat—where only a handful of pockets remain. Even more unusually, this little owl breaks the usual night-owl mold: it is diurnal, hunting during the day, especially early mornings or late afternoons before retreating into the shadows later in the day.

Even in its daily routine, the Forest Owlet stands out. It uses enormous claws—relative to its size—to catch prey that’s sometimes nearly double its own bulk. It flips its tail from side to side when perched, especially when hunting—an unusual twitch that’s like its personal forest forewarning system. Its diet is impressive: rodents, lizards, skinks, birds, frogs, and insects make it a versatile hunter of the understory. During nesting, males bring food to females in tree cavities, showing a teamwork that’s critical for their annual breeding cycle—even though they lay just two eggs and raise one clutch per year.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

India

250-1,000

Official estimate

EN

2018