Owls are possibly the most intriguing and mysterious of all bird species. From being repositories of wisdom to harbingers of doom, they are slapped with a gamut of attributes. They are primarily solitary, largely nocturnal, have a wide range of vocalisations, and can rotate their heads to an astonishing degree — all of which adds to their enigma. Interestingly, other bird species fear them to the extent that they are sometimes attacked and harassed by groups of birds, cutting across species lines.
Owls are fascinating. There are an estimated 225 owl species in the world, 36 of which are found in India. Gujarat’s Dang district, where the Western Ghats begins, has 12 owl species; one of these, the forest owlet (Athene blewitti), is possibly the most treasured inhabitant of Dang district and its adjoining areas. These owls have an unusual history. They were first spotted in 1872 and, twelve years later, believed to have gone extinct. Then, in 1997, over 100 years later, they were rediscovered and have since been intensely studied. IUCN has classified the species as “Endangered”, and less than 1,000 creatures are estimated to exist.
The forest owlet’s history and conservation status might overshadow other owl species. However, all 12 owl species can be spotted with relative ease in Dang district, making owling incredibly popular with birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Apart from the diurnal forest owlet, there’s the crepuscular jungle owlet and nocturnal species such as the large mottled wood owl, brown fish owl, brown hawk owl, barn owl, and scops owl (Indian and Oriental). While the best time to look for them is around dawn or dusk, because of the presence of owls with differing habits, it is not uncommon to hear calls and even spot them late in the morning or early evening.
The forest owlet is a small owl, growing to an average of 23 cm and weighing around 200 gm. The grey-brown colouration with faint spots helps it camouflage in the district’s thick foliage. Among the few diurnal owl species, it is best seen mid to late morning and early to late evening. It has a variety of calls; the most common is a rapid rhythmic hooting with a rising and falling pitch. The forest owlet preys on small mammals, rodents, and reptiles (lizards and skinks make up the bulk of its food). The forest owlet likes to perch high on trees and silently stalk its prey before attacking. Pairs are believed to mate for life though researchers have found exceptions. A female lays 1-2 eggs per season, but a low survival rate and other threats, including habitat destruction and poaching, have left the species in grave danger. Photos: Dhritiman Mukherjee (1), Aditya Roy (2)
Found almost all over India (except some parts of western India), the jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) is a common, small, squat owl. It has dense barring throughout the body and is sometimes called the barred jungle owlet. The bird has distinctive intense yellow eyes and grows to around 20 cm, and weighs up to 115 gm. The jungle owlet is found in thickly forested areas in lowlands and mountain foothills. Its calls are a series of staccato trills. Jungle owlets are crepuscular, i.e., spotted at dawn and dusk, but are also active at night. They often sit on the treetops for sunbathing. They feed mostly on large insects like grasshoppers and cicadas but also on lizards, mice, molluscs, and small birds. Photo: Aditya Roy
Mottled wood owls (Strix ocellata) are large, growing up to 50 cm and weighing up to 800 gm. Despite their size, they swoop onto trees silently. They are endemic to India and found throughout the country, including the Himalayas. Their most distinctive feature is their reddish-brown eyes surrounded by striking dusky pink or red eyelids. The owl gets its name from the rufous (reddish-brown) or orange-yellow mottling on much of its upper parts. It also has black barring on the face and underparts and a curved black beak. It is a nocturnal bird and roosts during the day, usually in pairs, well hidden within the thick foliage of tall trees. Mottled wood owls feed on insects, lizards, rodents like rats and mice, and birds up to the size of pigeons. They have a short, eerie metallic call; during mating season, the male utters a hollow, trembling, laughing call. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee
The barn owl’s (Tyto alba) most distinguishing feature is a heart-shaped face devoid of ear tufts. It is a medium-sized bird that can grow up to 45 cm and weigh up to 700 gm. While the face and underparts are a distinctive white, the rest of the body is mottled grey or brown. It can fly and glide soundlessly. Apart from nesting in tree hollows, barn owls also nest in caves, old buildings, and other structures. They are generally nocturnal but sometimes fly around at dawn and dusk. They have a variety of calls, including screeches, wheezes, and purrs. Barn owls eat small ground mammals such as rats, mice, shrews, and baby hare, and also lizards, geckos, snakes, frogs, and large insects. The barn owl is one of the most widely distributed birds in the world. Photo: Aditya Roy
Scops owls are relatively small owls that derive their name from “skopos”, a Greek word that (among other things) translates to “watching”. Nearly 60 species of scops owls of the genus Otus occur worldwide. They come in various shades of brown, with pale or whitish undersides. They have large eyes and conspicuous ear tufts. They are known to be solitary and have high-pitched hoots or whistling calls as opposed to the screeches of other owls. (1) The Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena) is found throughout India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan. It grows to around 22 cm and weighs up to 150 gm. It is mainly grey-brown with prominent barring, a lighter forehead and underparts, and a darker crown and outer margins of the ears. Its eyes are dark or hazel brown, and its beak is greenish brown with a dark tip. It is predominantly nocturnal and seldom seen during the day when it prefers to roost amidst thick foliage. Scops owls mainly feed on insects and occasionally lizards, mice, and small birds. (2) Oriental scops owls (Otus sunia) have a wider distribution than the Indian scops owl, extending to large parts of east Asia to east Siberia. This owl is slightly reddish-brown with striking yellow eyes. It is smaller than the Indian scops owl, growing to about 20 cm and weighing a maximum of 95 gm. It feeds on insects, spiders, and sometimes small vertebrates. Photos: Aditya Roy (1), Dhritiman Mukherjee (2)
(1) Brown fish owls (Ketupa zeylonensis) are found mostly near water; they feed mainly on fish and other aquatic creatures like frogs and crabs but also prey on large insects, reptiles, rodents, and birds. They hunt from perches overlooking the water. They are mostly tawny with dark streaks with bushy ear tufts. They are fairly large owls that can grow to 58 cm and weigh up to 1.3 kg. (2) Brown hawk owls (Ninox scutulata), on the other hand, are much smaller, measuring about 30 cm and weighing around 225 gm. These birds are generally chocolate brown with paler or white underparts, ochre bars, and no ear tufts. They roost during the day and become active at dusk. They feed on large insects, lizards, frogs, mice, and small birds. Brown hawk owls have one of the most musical-sounding calls among owls, which is low but carries a long distance. Photos: Aditya Roy (1), Dhritiman Mukherjee (2)
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Anita Rao-Kashi
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