Colours of Wildlife: Pearl-spotted Owlet
Created | Updated Jul 12, 2009
The Return of The Unmentionable Marauding Pillowcase is a wildlife artist based in South Africa. He says "My aim is simply to express the beauty and wonder that is in Nature, and to heighten people's appreciation of plants, animals and the wilderness. Not everything I paint is African! Though I've never been there, I'm also fascinated by Asia and I've done paintings of Asian rhinos and birds as well. I may in future do some of European, Australian and American species too. I'm fascinated by wild things from all over the world!
I mainly paint in watercolours ... but actually many media including 'digital' paintings with the computer!"
Pearl-spotted Owlet
This is a Pearlspotted Owlet; one of the smallest species of owl in Sub-Saharan Africa, being about the size of a thrush. Nevertheless, it is a formidable predatory bird, preying on small mammals, reptiles and birds. It is very widespread, only being absent from the rainforest belt and the colder, drier regions of Southern Africa. Its preferred habitat is woodland or thorn-tree savannah. Unlike most owls, this owlet is often active in daytime. It has a distinctive call; playing a tape-recording of this call is in fact a good way to attract parties of other bird species, wherever this owl occurs! They will arrive, intending to mob and chase away the 'owl'.
The original of this picture is a small painting done in watercolours.
The Return of The Unmentionable Marauding Pillowcase!!!
