2025-01-09 · Spotted Owlet (Vellore)
Story
Visited this place near a lake—some houses fully built, some incomplete, and now abandoned. Around them, active farms and a lush green belt of trees keep the land alive. With so much cover and food, birds were busy everywhere. I met a bold pair of Spotted Owlets, curious and playful, flying from perch to perch. This frame is the take-off from a coconut frond—my all-time favourite bird.
Field Guide
• Common / Scientific: Spotted Owlet — Athene brama (Tamil: சிறு ஆந்தை)
• Location / Date: Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India — Jan 2025
• ID notes: compact, large yellow eyes; neat white brows; spotted crown & mantle; barred wings/underparts
• Behavior: often seen by day around human habitation; bold, curious; short flights between perches; loud screeches/chirrups at dusk
• Habitat / Range: open countryside, groves, farmlands, towns; widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent
• Breeding: nests in tree hollows, walls, or buildings; pairs stay near sites year-round
• Look-alike tip: vs. Little Owl (rarer here)—Spotted Owlet shows finer spotting and typical South Asian range
• Location / Date: Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India — Jan 2025
• ID notes: compact, large yellow eyes; neat white brows; spotted crown & mantle; barred wings/underparts
• Behavior: often seen by day around human habitation; bold, curious; short flights between perches; loud screeches/chirrups at dusk
• Habitat / Range: open countryside, groves, farmlands, towns; widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent
• Breeding: nests in tree hollows, walls, or buildings; pairs stay near sites year-round
• Look-alike tip: vs. Little Owl (rarer here)—Spotted Owlet shows finer spotting and typical South Asian range
Tech / Notes
Nikon Z9 + NIKKOR Z 800mm • 1/2500 • f/6.3 • ISO 1250 • Evening light
Ethics: no baiting/playback; kept respectful distance; minimal frames near perch.
Ethics: no baiting/playback; kept respectful distance; minimal frames near perch.
