Spotted Owlet in Bharatpur, India

© Bernard Castelein/Minden Picture

The common Spotted Owlet

If you live in an Indian city, and have been surprised to see an owl or two perched quite comfortably on a window ledge, chances are you’ve just encountered a Spotted Owlet. The Athene Brama, as they are also known, are native to India and South Asia in general. They are quite commonly found around human habitats and have adapted well to city life. Often roosting together in groups, the spotted owlets need only a cavity or a hollow in a building or a tree, to start a nest of 3 or 4 eggs.