Owls Found in India
The owls are one of the most fascinating raptors or Birds of Prey.
There are about 250 species of owls found worldwide, of which India is home to about 30-38 species.
Mostly solitary, and mostly nocturnal with a few exceptions, these resident birds have a wide range of vocalisations.
- Andaman Boobook / Hawk-Owl (Ninox affinis)
- Andaman Masked Owl (Tyto deroepstorffi)
- Andaman Scops Owl (Otus balli)
- Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides)
- Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) (Rare/Accidental)
- Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis)
- Brown Hawk-Owl / Boobook (Ninox scutulata)
- Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica)
- Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu)
- Chestnut-backed Owlet (Glaucidium castanotum) (Potential overlap)
- Collared Owlet (Taenioptynx brodiei)
- Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia)
- Dusky Eagle Owl (Bubo coromandus)
- Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica)
- Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris)
- Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)
- Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops)
- Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti / Heteroglaux blewitti)
- Himalayan Owl (Strix nivicolum / nivicola)
- Hume's Hawk-Owl / Boobook (Ninox obscura) (Andaman endemic)
- Hume's Owl (Strix butleri) (Status uncertain)
- Indian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis)
- Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena)
- Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum)
- Little Owl (Athene noctua)
- Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
- Mottled Wood Owl (Strix ocellata)
- Mountain Scops Owl (Otus spilocephalus)
- Nicobar Scops Owl (Otus alius)
- Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius)
- Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia)
- Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei)
- Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
- Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl (Bubo nipalensis)
- Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
- Sri Lanka Bay Owl (Phodilus assimilis) (Western Ghats)
- Tawny Fish Owl (Ketupa flavipes)
- Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) (NW Himalayas)
Note: Owl taxonomy and distribution can vary. This list is based on commonly cited species found within India.
