How do you identify a Chestnut-backed Owlet?

The chestnut-backed owlet is small and stocky, measuring 19 cm (7.5 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Chestnut-backed Owlet?

The Chestnut-backed Owlet is a medium sized bird weighing about 100 g.

Where can you see a Chestnut-backed Owlet?

The Chestnut-backed Owlet is endemic to Sri Lanka, which is the only country where it occurs.

What birds look similar to a Chestnut-backed Owlet?

The Chestnut-backed Owlet is most easily confused with the Yungas Pygmy Owl, the Red-chested Owlet and the Costa Rican Pygmy Owl.

Is the Chestnut-backed Owlet endangered?

The Chestnut-backed Owlet is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Chestnut-backed Owlet

Glaucidium castanotum

Owls · Strigiformes · Rare

The Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum) is a rare owl found only in Sri Lanka, weighing about 100 g. The chestnut-backed owlet, is an owl which is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Near ThreatenedRareEndemicEats invertebratesforestcavity nest100 g

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 1 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 2 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 3 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 4 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 5 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 6 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 7 — Photo: Mickey Wu · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 8 — Photo: rashidchan · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 9 — Photo: rashidchan · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum), photo 10 — Photo: Tero Linjama · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

About the Chestnut-backed Owlet

The chestnut-backed owlet, is an owl which is endemic to Sri Lanka. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most of the smaller owl species. This species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the jungle owlet.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The chestnut-backed owlet is small and stocky, measuring 19 cm (7.5 in) in length. It resembles the jungle owlet in shape, size and appearance but the upperparts, scapulars and wing coverts are mainly chestnut brown, with darker barring. The underparts are white with blackish shaft-streaks. The facial disc is mainly brown and the eyes are yellow. There is a white neckband. Sexes are similar in appearance, with no sexual dimorphism.

Where it lives

Sri Lanka

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Chestnut-backed Owlet?: The chestnut-backed owlet is small and stocky, measuring 19 cm (7.5 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Chestnut-backed Owlet?: The Chestnut-backed Owlet is a medium sized bird weighing about 100 g.
Where can you see a Chestnut-backed Owlet?: The Chestnut-backed Owlet is endemic to Sri Lanka, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Chestnut-backed Owlet?: The Chestnut-backed Owlet is most easily confused with the Yungas Pygmy Owl, the Red-chested Owlet and the Costa Rican Pygmy Owl.
Is the Chestnut-backed Owlet endangered?: The Chestnut-backed Owlet is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Chestnut-backed Owlet for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.