Have you ever heard a purring hoot during the day or into the night with no sign or sight of the animal responsible? Chances are that the caller is an African Barred Owlet. This seldom seen but often heard creature is easy to miss as it spends most of its day roosting among thick foliage of trees, sometimes near a nest site (natural cavities of trees) or even in them.

The chances of noticing one are made harder still as they are quite small at 20-21cm with the male weighing ± 115g and the female ± 120g. They are often confused with the smaller Pearl Spotted Owlet. The best way to tell them apart is the African Barred Owlet is barred above and streaked below, fine barring on the head and has no “false eyes” on the back of their head.

When, and if you, have the good fortune to see one in the evening when they are most active (but have been seen during daytime), you could find them perched on a branch advertising their presence or calling their partner. Being monogamous they often call together, being not too far apart or sometime even perched in the same tree.

It’s not always bliss as disputes sometimes breakout between unknown/different individuals. These are swiftly handled by shows of strength and agility as they chase each other from tree to tree, often grappling talons while purring softly.

Another chance to see them is on lower branches, intently scanning the ground for something to eat. They use their powerful feet to clasp, kill and capture larger insects and invertebrates but will also make a meal out of smaller snakes, lizards, mice and even birds. Due to them eating hatchlings, smaller birds often try to chase them away, an action called “mobbing” inducing a feisty response of wing flapping and overhead swooping.

Just remember to be quick in your viewing as they don’t stay on one perch for too long and in a silent burst of wing beats, they could be gone.