Description:

Compact, plump, variable color and relatively small, with wings broad and rounded. Sandy coloured owl with white 'spectacles', white throat and bold white spotting on upperparts. Streaked breast and flanks, and streaked crown. From Spotted Owlet by streaked rather than spotted breast and flanks.

Distribution:

Uncommon resident in the norther border areas, limited to northern parts of Hunza district. Usually found in rocky cliffs and boulders in semi-open habitats from steppes and stony semi-desert to farmland and open woodland and villages, below 3000m.

Behavior:

Hunting essentially nocturnal and crepuscular, mainly dusk to midnight; rarely diurnal. Hunts by perching on post or similar vantage point, dropping on prey; occasionally hovers; also hunts on ground, can run rapidly while chasing prey. Diet largely consists of small mammals and birds, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, crickets, earwigs and earthworms.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Little Owl in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Little Owl

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.