Athene roseoaxillaris
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makira_owl
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Rose-winged Owl faces severe pressure from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Western Ghats of India. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented its specialized forest habitat, while pesticide use in surrounding agricultural areas reduces prey availability. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the montane forest ecosystems this endemic species depends upon.
Habitat
This endemic owl inhabits dense tropical montane forests and forest edges in the Western Ghats of India, typically at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. It prefers areas with dense canopy cover and abundant hollow trees for nesting, often near forest clearings where it hunts for insects and small vertebrates.
