Overview
The forest owlet (Athene blewitti) is endemic to the forests of central India. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2018, as the population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature individuals. It is threatened foremost by deforestation.
It is a member of the typical owl family Strigidae, and was first described in 1873.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Known from seven 19th Century specimens from northwestern Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh; rediscovered in Taloda area, Maharashtra after hiatus of 113 years; now known from deciduous forest mainly in Surat Dangs (Gujarat), northwestern Maharashtra, and Melghat Tiger Reserve (western Madhya Pradesh).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Forest owlet
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
