Pearl-spotted Owl

Afrikaans name: Witkoluil

Pearl-spotted Owl

Photo © Steven Herbert

Glaucidium perlatum

The Pearl-spotted Owl is a tiny little owl. It is less than 20 cm in length.

It is found in savanna and woodland habitats. It is often active during the day and its presence is often given away by other birds who mob it.

The Pearl-spotted Owl feeds on small items of prey including insects, mammals and birds.

These owls make their nest in a cavity in a tree and up to 4 eggs are laid.

The Pearl-spotted Owl has 'eyes' on the back of its head. There is a pair of dark marks which give the appearance of an extra set of eyes.

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References and further reading

A Delight of Owls - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 66

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 159

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 120

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 120

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Year Published: 1970 - Page: 148

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 86

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 261

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 106

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 131

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 42

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 60

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 112

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 166

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 218

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 218

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 22

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 148

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 251

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 261

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 348

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 344

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Year Published: 1998 - Page: 298

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 236

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 242

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 65

The Owls of Southern Africa - Author: Alan Kemp and Simon Calburn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 92

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 116

List of South African Birds