Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Mottled Wood Owl (Strix ocellata)
Mottled Wood Owl

Mottled Wood Owl

Strix ocellata

The Mottled Wood Owl, Strix ocellata, presents itself as a large owl species devoid of ear tufts. Its plumage is a tapestry of reddish-brown and white, intricately mottled and vermiculated. The face disc is a marvel, adorned with fine concentric black and white barring, while the chin boasts a striking white. The eyelids are a vivid orange, contrasting with the dark brown iris. The tail is elegantly barred with narrow brown and black stripes.

Identification Tips

This owl's large stature and the distinctive concentric barring on its face are key identification features. The absence of ear tufts and the mottled crown distinguish it from the similar Brown Wood Owl found in southern India. Both sexes appear similar in plumage.

Habitat

The Mottled Wood Owl favors gardens and lightly wooded areas, often found adjacent to dry thorn forests or farmland. During the day, it roosts in trees, selecting branches with dense foliage for cover.

Distribution

Native to India, the Mottled Wood Owl's range extends from southern regions to the plains of northern India, west to Pakistan, and east to West Bengal. Notable sightings have been recorded in various parts of India, including recent observations in Uttar Pradesh.

Behaviour

Typically roosting in pairs during daylight hours, these owls may take flight when disturbed, even under the bright sun. They are known for their unique and somewhat unsettling chuhua-aa call, which is an antiphonal duet between the male and female. Their breeding season commences in November, with nests predominantly found from February to April. They also emit a single-note hoot and a screech reminiscent of the Barn Owl.

Song & Calls

The Mottled Wood Owl's calls are distinctive and include a tremulous duet between mates at dawn and dusk, a low hoot, and a screech. The duet is particularly eerie, with the male initiating and the female responding with a shorter, less tremulous version.

Breeding

Breeding begins in November, with nests usually located in tree hollows. The female lays two to three immaculate white eggs.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of small mammals such as palm squirrels and mice, which they hunt with precision.

Conservation status

The Mottled Wood Owl is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Mottled Wood Owls on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Naman Doshi
Naman Doshi
10 Jun 2024 - 2:19pm
India

More Owls

A photo of a Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vidsπŸ¦‰πŸ¦…
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright Β© 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.