[order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Glaucidium sjostedti | [authority] Reichenow, 1893 | [UK] Sjostedts Barred Owlet | [FR] Chevechette a queue barree | [DE] Prachtkauz | [ES] Mochuelo del Congo | [NL] Kameroendwerguil
| Genus |
Species |
subspecies |
Region |
Range |
| Glaucidium |
sjostedti |
|
AF |
wc |
Genus
Members of the genus Glaucidium are very small and tiny owls. They have rounded heads without ear-tufts. Their eyes are yellow. In many species the talons are, in relation to their size, very powerful. The facial disc is not very distinct. Some species have a large dark patch with a pale border on each side of the nape of the neck, looking like false eyes. Many are partly diurnal and sing from exposed perches. These are mostly very tenacious in the hunt, and show little fear, even of approaching humans. Glaucidium is a worldwide genus, containing some 30 species. Most of the Asian species, and some of the African species show physical and behavioural differences that suggest they might be better placed in Athene, and DNA evidence suggests that there is only a distant relationship between the Old World Pygmy Owls and those of the New World.
Sjostedt’s owlet is a small, attractively coloured owl species found in Central Africa. The head, neck and upper back are brown and densely marked with thin, white bars, while the rest of the upperparts are deep chestnut. Extensive barring is also found on the breast, which is light cinnamon-brown, with numerous dark brown bars on the upper breast that become more diffuse towards the lower regions. This species’ face is particularly distinctive, with striking, white eyebrow-like markings above the large, bright yellow eyes. The juvenile’s plumage resembles the adult’s, but is generally paler, with light yellowish-brown underparts becoming chestnut around the throat, and with faint barring on the upper breast
| wingspan min.: |
0 |
cm |
wingspan max.: |
0 |
cm |
| size min.: |
20 |
cm |
size max.: |
25 |
cm |
| incubation min.: |
27 |
days |
incubation max.: |
29 |
days |
| fledging min.: |
0 |
days |
fledging max.: |
0 |
days |
| broods: |
0 |
|
eggs min.: |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
eggs max.: |
3 |
|
Africa : Westcentral. Sjostedt’s owlet is found in western Central Africa, from south-eastern Nigeria eastwards through Cameroon to the Central African Republic, and southwards to Gabon, northern Congo and north-western and central Democratic Republic of Congo
Generally restricted to lowland primary forest, Sjostedt’s owlet avoids regions that are particularly damp, as well as the forest edge
Males are territorial, protecting their ranges from rival males, and making loud calls in order to attract females. After mating, a nest is constructed in a cavity or natural tree hollow, in which the female lays a clutch of at least two eggs, which are incubated for around one month
Its diet consists of insects such as grasshoppers, but also spiders, crabs, mice, small snakes and nestling birds
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Resident
