Description: Small owl with short ear tufts and yellow eyes. Grey, brown and red colour morphs occur with intermediates. Light grey, black edged facial disk. Heavily streaked upper-parts and under-parts marked with herring bone pattern.

 

Size: 20-24cm, 95-160g

 

Habitat: Savannah, open forest, plantations, parks, clearings.

 

Food: Mainly insects and other invertebrates, occasionally snakes and small mammals.

 

Breeding: January - July N. of equator and September - October south of it. 1-4 eggs in tree cavity. Little else is known about its breeding habits.

 

Call: Purring, short trill, followed by 2 toots.

 

Status: Not thought to be threatened, although exact status is unknown.

 

Comments: Often hunts on roadsides, and as a result roadside casualties are common.