The jungle owlet is a small bird, with yellow eyes and brown rounded wings. It has such a rounded head that its face cannot be clearly distinguished from its body.
These birds prefer forests and woodlands, especially the teak and sal forests. But these birds are not strictly nocturnal, but can also be found hunting after dawn or during cloudy days. They usually perch on wires and are also seen resting in mild sunlight for warmth.
They roost in leaf cover or inside tree cavities. If they are discovered among leaves, they will fly away instantly. But if they’re found in cavities, they will freeze and appear like a tree stump. They hunt insects, rodents, reptiles and other small birds for food.
The jungle owlets are found in many parts of India, especially in the south of the Himalayas, up to an altitude of 2000 m. They are also seen in Sri Lanka.