Woo hoo, it’s that time again this week for fun fact Friday! A fun fact a week keeps the foolishness away. Today’s topic is about forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti).
This species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on IUCN Red List and on Appendix I of II of CITES. The major threats to this species are forest destruction due to illegal logging for firewood and timber, encroachment for cultivation and settlements, overgrazing by cattle, and forest fire. Now here are 5 fun facts you probably didn’t know about Heteroglaux blewitti:
1. Also known as Forest Owlet, Forest Spotted Owlet, Forest Little Owl due to their small body which measures only 23 cm length.
2. They are back from extinction. They were considered extinct before being rediscovered in 1997, 113 years after the last confirmed record. Before the rediscovery, they were only known from seven specimens collected during the 19th century.
3. They love sunlight and are not shy. Unlike most of its nocturnal (active during the night) relatives, forest owlet is diurnal (active during the day) and crepuscular (active during twilight hours), hunting preys in the morning and evening in open areas with low ground cover.
4. A kind of ‘big foot’ in the bird world. They have big disproportionate talons compared to their small body size. With their large and powerful talons, they have been known to take prey twice their size.
5. They dislike their birthplace. It is thought that this owlet prefers subtropical and tropical dry deciduous forest. This is in contrast with most historic records of the species, which have come from moist deciduous forest or dense jungle.
Enjoy reading the fun facts? Do you have a favorite animal or any other animals that you would like me to write the fun facts about? Let me know by commenting below. Spread the info and have a nice weekend! 🙂
Holiztic Vet 