Sjöstedt's barred owlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sjöstedt's barred owlet |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Glaucidium |
| Species: |
G. sjostedti
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| Binomial name | |
| Glaucidium sjostedti Reichenow, 1893
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The Sjöstedt's barred owlet (also called Sjöstedt's owlet) is a type of owl. It lives in west central Africa. Its scientific name is Glaucidium sjostedti. It belongs to the Strigidae family of owls.
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About the Sjöstedt's Barred Owlet
The Sjöstedt's barred owlet is a small owl. It has a brown head, neck, and upper back. These parts are covered with thin, white stripes, like bars. The rest of its upper body is a deep reddish-brown color.
Its chest has many dark brown stripes on a light cinnamon-brown background. These stripes become less clear towards its lower belly. This owl has a unique face with bright yellow eyes. It also has bold, white eyebrows above its eyes.
Young owlets look a lot like the adults. However, they are usually lighter in color. Their undersides have a yellowish-brown tint. The stripes on their upper chest are faint, but they get darker around the throat.
What Does the Sjöstedt's Owlet Sound Like?
The Sjöstedt's barred owlet has a special call. It sounds like "kroo-kroo-kroo". You can usually hear this call around sunrise and sunset.
Where Sjöstedt's Barred Owlets Live
Sjöstedt's barred owlets live in western Central Africa. You can find them from southeastern Nigeria all the way east to the Central African Republic. They also live south into Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, northern Congo, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These owls mostly live in lowland primary forests. This means they prefer old, untouched forests that are not too wet. They tend to avoid the edges of forests. Interestingly, they can also be found at high altitudes on Mount Cameroon.
How Sjöstedt's Barred Owlets Behave
Sjöstedt's barred owlets are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They hunt for food in the lower parts of the forest. Their diet includes insects like grasshoppers, as well as spiders and crabs. They also eat small animals like mice, tiny snakes, and baby birds still in their nests.
If an owlet is disturbed during the day, small birds, like passerines, might gather around it. This is called "mobbing behavior." It's their way of trying to scare the owl away.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists don't know a lot about the breeding habits of the Sjöstedt's barred owlet. We know they lay eggs in July in Gabon. Young owlets have been found in nests throughout most of the year in Cameroon.
Male owlets are very territorial. They call loudly to attract females. They also use their calls to warn other male owls to stay away from their area.
The owlet builds its nest in a hole or natural hollow inside a tree. The female lays at least two eggs. The eggs hatch after about one month.
Why is it Called Sjöstedt's Owlet?
This owl species is named after a Swedish naturalist. His name was Bror Yngve Sjöstedt.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
