At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Stable
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The forest owlet is a small, day-active owl of central India that was feared extinct for over a century before its rediscovery in 1997. It is assessed as Endangered.
It hunts lizards and other small prey, often in daylight.
Range & habitat
Forests of central India.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Habitat loss and degradation
- A small, fragmented range
- Disturbance
Why it matters
A small owl famously rediscovered after being lost to science for decades, the forest owlet is a flagship for India's dry forests.
Sources
Sources for Forest Owlet
- IUCN Red List — look up Forest Owlet (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the forest owlet thought extinct?
After very few historical records, it went unseen for over a hundred years and was feared extinct until it was rediscovered in central India in 1997.
Why is the forest owlet Endangered?
Published assessments cite habitat loss and degradation, a small fragmented range, and disturbance. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
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