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[[Image:Afrbarred.JPG]]

'''Common Name:''' African Barred Owlet<br>
'''Scientific Name''': Glaucidium capense

'''Size:''' 7 ¾ - 8 ¼ inches (20-21 cm); Wingspan:  15 ¾ inches (40 cm)

'''Habitat:''' Africa; found in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Most frequently found in woodland and forests, and on forest edges. It may also occur in more open savannah and along rivers. Prefers woodlands, with sparse undergrowth, usually with a river or stream nearby.

'''Status:''' Least Concern. Global population: Unknown. Locally threatened, in the Eastern Cape of Africa.

'''Diet''': Mostly insects, although small rodents and birds may also be eaten.

'''Nesting:''' Females are larger than males. It normally uses natural hollows in trees as nests, which can be as high as 6 m above ground. It sometimes visits the nest by day, carrying feathers and leaves, which are presumed to be lining for the nest. It lays 2-3 eggs, in August-October. 

Incubation is presumed to be done solely by the female, for 28-34 days. It can be extremely stubborn about not leaving the nest, so much so that one can stroke and touch it without protest.

The chicks are brooded for 14 days by the female, after which both sexes hunt. They are sometimes fed as many as 40 meals in 6 hours, by both parents. The brood leave the nest after 32-33 days, after which they live in the vicinity of the nest. At 42 days, they have learned to fly.

'''Cool Facts:'''  This owl is often confused with the Pearl-spotted owlet which it differs from by being larger and having a barred head; Pearl-spotted Owlets have a spotted head.


'''Found in [http://www.daz3d.com/shop/songbird-remix-owls Songbird ReMix Owls]'''