The Brown Wood Owl is a large forest owl that most people never see. It sits still in thick shade during the day and does not call much. We found one in the forest near Vanoshi, Sindhudurg, during the monsoon.
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What is the Brown Wood Owl?
The Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica) is a big owl, about 45 to 50 cm tall. It has a plain brown face, dark eyes with no yellow, a pale eyebrow line and fine bars across the chest.
Unlike many owls it has no ear tufts. The round head and completely dark eyes are the quickest way to know you are looking at this bird and not an eagle-owl.
How to tell it apart from other owls
- Brown Wood Owl: big, round head, no ear tufts, fully dark eyes, plain brown face. Deep forest.
- Indian Eagle-Owl: large ear tufts and bright orange eyes. Rocky and open ground.
- Spotted Owlet: much smaller, yellow eyes, white spots. Common near villages and farms.
- Mottled Wood Owl: similar size but a strongly patterned face with fine black and white markings.
If the eyes are black rather than yellow or orange, and the bird is deep inside forest, it is almost certainly a Brown Wood Owl.
Where to see it in Sindhudurg
This owl needs old, dense, moist forest. In Sindhudurg that means the wooded belt inland from the coast. We were near Vanoshi.
It roosts during the day in shaded trees, often close to the trunk where the light is poor. It is almost impossible to find by walking around randomly. A local guide who knows the roost trees makes the difference.
Best time to see it
You can find this owl all year because it does not migrate. We saw it in August, during the monsoon, when we were in the area for the kingfishers.
The best hours are early morning and late evening. In the middle of the day it sits very still and is hard to pick out.
What does it eat?
It hunts at night. Rats, mice, small birds, lizards, frogs and large insects. It hunts by sitting quietly and dropping on prey rather than flying around searching.
Photography tips
- Expose for the bird, not the forest. The bird sits in shade with bright leaves behind it. Without correction the owl comes out too dark.
- Do not use flash. It is a night hunter with sensitive eyes and it is resting during the day.
- Keep quiet and keep back. If it opens its eyes wide and turns its body towards you, it is uncomfortable. Step away.
- Take the full body shot first. Get one safe frame before trying to move for a better angle.
Please do not disturb a roosting owl. Do not clap, whistle or throw anything to make it turn its head. A bird pushed off its daytime roost is exposed to crows and loses rest it needs for the night.
Other birds in the same forest
The Brown Wood Owl shares this forest with a good list of Western Ghats species. On the same trip we also recorded:
- Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
- Blue-eared Kingfisher
- Malabar Grey Hornbill
- Indian Pitta
- Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
- Grey-fronted Green Pigeon
- Crimson-backed Sunbird
The full list is in our Sindhudurg monsoon birding guide, which covers 27 species.
How to reach Sindhudurg
- By road from Mumbai: about 8 to 10 hours by car. From Pune it is around 6 to 7 hours.
- By air: Chipi (Sindhudurg Airport) is the nearest. Goa (Dabolim or Mopa) is the larger alternative.
- By train: Konkan Railway, get down at Kudal or Sawantwadi.
- Stay: forest homestays are the best base for birding.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown Wood Owl?
About 45 to 50 cm tall. It is one of the larger owls in Indian forests.
Is the Brown Wood Owl rare?
It is not officially rare but it is hard to see. It stays in dense forest and sits still during the day, so most visitors miss it.
Does it have ear tufts?
No. The head is smooth and round. Owls with tufts in India are usually eagle-owls or scops owls.
Why are its eyes black?
Dark eyes are common in owls that hunt inside forest rather than in the open. The Indian Eagle-Owl, which hunts in open country, has orange eyes.
Can I see it without a guide?
It is very unlikely. The bird is quiet and well camouflaged. A guide who knows the roost trees is the only reliable way.
Related posts: Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher in Sindhudurg, Sindhudurg Monsoon Birding Guide and Birds of Sindhudurg Field Guide.