Least Concern Birds

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Pearl-spotted Owlet hunts insects and small animals in African savannas and farmlands.

Scientific name	Glaucidium perlatum
Swahili name	Kiboko wa Mvua
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Strigiformes
Family	Strigidae
Size	Male: approximately 120-140 grams; Female: approximately 130-150 grams

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How to identify

Small-sized bird with distinct pearl-like white spots on the head; large yellow eyes; back and wings gray-brown with white spots; chest pale with fine streaks; short tail with prominent horizontal bands.

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, bushes, open forest, and edges of farmland

Diet

Primarily feeds on insects, small mammals, reptiles, and small birds; carnivorous

When it is active

Diurnal, mainly active during morning and evening

Where it lives

Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Masai Mara region

How to spot it

Look for it in the early morning or evening at the edges of open woodland savanna or bushes, paying attention to its distinctive call and behavior.

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture details of the spots and eyes; soft morning light is best for photography.

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation, agricultural expansion, and pesticide use

Similar species

Similar to other small owls of the genus Glaucidium, such as the Spotted Owlet, but distinguished by more prominent pearl-like spots on the head and smaller size.

📖 how to spot the pearl spotted owlet on safari