Birds of the World

Strigidae : Owls

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

The Gambia - January 2003

The small owls of the genus Glaucidium are particularly fierce predators which are often most active during daylight hours, generally around sunrise and sunset. Many of them are particularly fond of small birds and, for this reason, most suffer severe mobbing behaviour by any small bird that spots their daytime roost. This behaviour, whose sole purpose is to draw attention to the owl and drive it from the attacker's territory, is usually the easiest way to spot a Pearl-spotted Owlet (or many other small owls throughout the world).