Image via Macaulay Library
Forest Owlet
- Scientific name
- Athene blewitti
- Family
- Strigidae
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Habitat
- Forest deciduous
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Rounded
Where it came from
The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) was first described by Allan Octavian Hume in 1873, based on a specimen collected by F.R. Blewitt in the forests of central India. For much of the 20th century, the species was considered extinct, as no confirmed sightings were recorded between 1884 and 1997. This long silence led ornithologists to believe the bird had vanished due to widespread habitat loss and deforestation within its limited range in the Satpura Range.
The species was famously rediscovered in 1997 by an international team led by Pamela Rasmussen, who identified a population in the Khandwa district of Maharashtra. This rediscovery brought significant attention to the unique morphology of the owl, characterized by its compact, rounded wings and short, rounded tail, which are specialized adaptations for maneuverability in dense woodland habitats. It remains a critically endangered species, serving as a vital indicator of the health of India's dry deciduous forest ecosystems.
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About Forest Owlet
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