Fun Collared Owlet Facts For Kids
Gallery
Do you want to learn about the smallest owls in Asia? In this article, we are going to learn about the collared owlet.
The collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) is the smallest species of owls found in Asia. These brown birds belong to the family Strigidae and genus Glaucidium.
The habitat range of this species extends from the Himalayas to eastern China and Taiwan and through to Malaysia. Collared owlets are mainly spotted in India, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.
They are abundant in the evergreen, deciduous forests in these regions and also near forest edges and open woodlands. This diurnal species generally lives on their own and can survive for about four years in the wild.
The breeding season for this species is in March to April, and the female birds lay round white eggs between April and June which soon hatch.
The chicks or young ones fledge by August. Collared owlets have a dark brown body with a round head covered in spots.
They also have yellow eyes, barred back and flanks, and a pale collar. Some of their noteworthy features are the white chin and belly, long tail, and brown band across its upper breast.
Read on to learn more about these unique birds, and if you like this article, be sure to read about the long-whiskered owlet and Javan owlet.
Collared Owlet Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a collared owlet?
The collared owlet is an owl of the family Strigidae and genus Glaucidium.
What class of animal does a collared owlet belong to?
The collared pygmy owl belongs to the class Aves of the animal kingdom.
How many collared owlets are there in the world?
Collared owlets have a very large range across different countries in Asia in India, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and Myanmar. Also, their global population is also not facing any imminent threat. However, we cannot calculate the exact number of these birds currently living on the planet.
Where does a collared owlet live?
Collared pygmy owls are the smallest owls in Asia and are found in countries like Bangladesh, Laos, India, China, Bhutan, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
What is a collared owlet's habitat?
Collared owls are commonly found in montane and sub-montane forests lying between altitudes of 4429-9022 ft (1350-2750 m). The preferred habitats of this species are forest edges, evergreen, and mixed evergreen-deciduous forests, as well as open woodlands.
They are often seen on oak and fir trees and can rarely be spotted near cultivated land. This species of owls are secondary cavity nesters that occupy nests build by other bird species or natural tree hollows.
Who does the collared owlet live with?
There isn't enough data to conclude whether the collared pygmy owl lives alone or in a group. However, we can assume that, like most of their relatives, these diurnal birds live on their own. They can be spotted in sitting in a group or parliament, but that is a rare occurrence.
How long does a collared owlet live?
The collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) lives for about four years in the wild.
How do they reproduce?
The collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) is a species of pygmy owls. Nothing much is known about the mating habits of these birds, except that the couple stays together during the breeding season, which generally lasts from March to April.
Following the breeding period, female owls lay eggs in the hollows of trees or in unused nests of other birds, between April and mid-June in batches of three to five, which is much more than the number laid by rufous owls.
This number is an average estimate and could easily vary from one pair to another.
The eggs of this owl species are white and round in shape. The chicks or baby owls fledge between the middle of June and the early days of August.
What is their conservation status?
The collared pygmy owlet species has been listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN Red List.
Collared Owlet Fun Facts
What does the collared owlet look like?
The collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) is a diurnal bird species with a considerably stable population across parts of Asia. The smallest owl in Asia has a gray-dark brown body and rounded head.
The head is barred and covered in multiple tiny spots. The bird has little white eyebrows and a white throat.
Their eyes are a bright yellow, and they have a black-barred back and flanks. This owl has a pale collar and dark black spots on either side of the nape, and the bird's chin, breast, and belly are covered in white feathers.
The bird also adorns a gray-brown spotted band on its upper breast. The Glaucidium brodiei has a pretty long tail, lacks ear tufts and rapid wingbeats.
How cute are they?
The tiniest owls in Asia, Glaucidium brodiei, are one of the cutest and most adorable bird species on the planet. Its small size, dark brown body with a rounded head, and lemon yellow eyes set this bird apart from other species. They are not as scary looking as the whiskered screech owl.
How do they communicate?
Collared owlets have distinct calls. The males give out repeated calls at short intervals. The call, which is generally mellow, can turn shrill if the bird gets excited. The owl calls loudly whilst turning its head in all directions.
How big is a collared owlet?
The Glaudicium brodiei is a tiny owl species that range in size up to 6 in (15 cm). This bird is just smaller than its closest relative, jungle owlets, which range to 7.87 in (20 cm) in length. Red owls are bigger than this species.
How fast can a collared owlet fly?
The Glaucidium brodiei, a fierce raptor bird, sits on perches and waits silently until it spots its prey. It has a small size, but do not let that fool you. This small bird is capable of swooping down from a good height at a great speed and pick prey from the ground or even a lower perch.
How much does a collared owlet weigh?
The average weight of Glaucidium brodiei ranges between 1.5-2.1 oz (42.52-60 g), which is similar to the weight of a flammulated owl.
What are the male and female names of the species?
Male and female Glaucidium brodiei owls do not have distinct names as such. However, they can be referred to as cocks and hens, respectively.
What would you call a baby collared owlet?
A baby Glaucidium brodiei is called an owlet.
What do they eat?
There is not much information available on the feeding habits of collared owlets. However, it is generally assumed that they have the same food preferences as the jungle owlet. The jungle owlet is a carnivorous bird. It mainly feeds on different species of mice, small birds and amphibians, small invertebrates, insects, and lizards.
Are they dangerous?
Collared owlets are fierce raptors. Though they have not caused any significant harm to humans, it would be better to maintain safety and enough distance if you ever come across this species.
Would they make a good pet?
Collared owlets are tiny birds of the wild. They are best suited in their natural habitat and it would be best to let them be in the wild.
Did you know...
The collared owlet has two recognized subspecies in the wild. One of the subspecies is the Glaudicium brodiei brodiei, living in the regions from the Himalayas to China, through Indo-China and the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The other subspecies is the Glaudicium brodiei pardalotum, which is mainly found in Taiwan.
How many eggs does the collared owlet lay?
The number of eggs laid by the Glaucidium brodiei varies from pair to pair. Eggs are laid between late April and mid-June during the breeding season, and the average number of eggs per batch could vary between three and five.
Does the collared owlet migrate?
The collared owlet is a resident bird across its habitat range. It has been observed that most owl species do not migrate, and it can only be assumed that such is also the case with collared owlets. They, however, do travel to different locations within their range in search of food. This bird is not endemic.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our azure winged magpie facts and Cambodian tailorbird facts pages!
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable cute owl family coloring pages.
Second image by Prateik Kulkarni
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics
Gowri RaoBachelor of Arts specializing in Economics
With a bachelor's degree in Economics from Krea University, Gowri is a highly skilled data analyst and an expert in regression and causation modeling. Her interests in economic trends, finance, and investment research complement her professional expertise. In addition to her professional pursuits, Gowri enjoys swimming, running, and playing the drums, and she is also a talented tutor.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
