Photo: Yogeshamodpalkar / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spotted Owlet
Athene brama
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) — Owls of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 112 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Athene
- Species brama
Quick facts
- Weight
- 112 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spotted Owlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Spotted Owlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, PAL s Iran to se Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 112 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 7.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spotted Owlet?
The Spotted Owlet is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 112 g.
Where does the Spotted Owlet live?
The Spotted Owlet is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, PAL s Iran to se Asia, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Spotted Owlet belong to?
The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Spotted Owlet eat?
The Spotted Owlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Spotted Owlet migrate?
The Spotted Owlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spotted Owlet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Spotted Owlet make?
1 real field recording of the Spotted Owlet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spotted Owlet's range?
The Spotted Owlet has a mapped global range of about 5.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.