Tim writes: unlike most owls, Asian Barred Owlet is a daytime-active species. It sits around on open perches like this, and drops down onto its prey, which is usually large insects, but also lizards, small mammals and birds.
It also goes by the name of Cuckoo Owlet and its scientific name Taenioglaux cuculoides translates as “banded little owl, like a cuckoo”.
They are a small species, about the same size as a Little Owl. It has a wide distribution across the southern foothills of the Himalayas, right across China and much of mainland SE Asia too.
I photographed this one near Tangjiahe in Sichuan, China.
[registration_form]