Mottled Wood Owl

Overview

The mottled wood owl (Strix ocellata) is a large owl species found in India and Nepal. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, this bird inhabits a range extending from Pakistan to West Bengal.

Identification

• Large owl lacking ear tufts, with plumage mottled and vermiculated in reddish brown and white.
• Face disc features fine concentric black and white barring, with a white chin and dark brown iris.
• Easiest to detect by a distinctive tremulous, eerie call at dawn and dusk, often performed as an antiphonal duet between the male and female.

Habitat

Found in the plains, specifically in gardens, thin deciduous forests, and lightly wooded habitats adjacent to dry thorn forests or farmland. They roost during the day in trees, typically selecting branches with dense foliage.

Diet

Feeds on small mammals, including palm squirrels and mice.

Did you know?

In the folklore of Kerala, the owl's call is considered a bad omen and is associated with the spirit world. Consequently, the bird is known in Malayalam as Kālan-kozhi, literally meaning 'fowl of death'.