Animal Facts

The Spotted Owlet is an adorable species of owl. They're one of the smaller owls with a typical wingspan of only 5 1/2 to 6 3/4 inches. Their feathers are usually brown to buff colored with white spots with underside feathers a bit lighter. A light ring around their gold eyes really makes them stand out.

Although they are nocturnal, these owlets are occasionally seen during the day. Their preferred areas are open country, with fields and meadows, even semi-desert. Even though they don't like thick forests, they do like to roost in trees. They mainly hunt insects, but sometimes will pounce on larger prey, such as mice or lizards.

The southern owlets will breed in winter, the northern when it gets warmer in spring. Nests are made in tree hollows or any hole they can find, including buildings. The female lays three to five eggs and starts incubation with the first egg laid. Because of this, the eggs hatch at different times, which means the babies can vary quite a bit in size. They don't stay long in the nest, starting to explore on their own at only 20 days old.