What is the Pearl-spotted Owlet?

The pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) is an owl that breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.

Go Birding

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

The pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) is an owl that breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordPearl-spotted Owlet20+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records696 records

Curve from 696 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Mpumalanga and beyond

Provinces where Pearl-spotted Owlet is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

697 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Pearl-spotted Owlet

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Orpen Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,815 per night

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Satara Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 52 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Cheetah · Photography

From R 331 per night

Olifants Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Game drives

From R 1,445 per night

Maroela Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Roodewal Bush Lodge

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 10,966 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Tamboti Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 771 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pearl-spotted Owlet recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Pearl-spotted Owlet

Hosts have recorded the Pearl-spotted Owlet at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger Kgalagadi

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand Timbavati

Species

Glaucidium perlatum

Records

697

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Pearl-spotted Owlet on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Pearl-spotted Owlet in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Pearl-spotted Owlet at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Pearl-spotted Owlet in South Africa?

The Pearl-spotted Owlet is most recorded in Mpumalanga (40% of records), Limpopo (36% of records), Northern Cape (13% of records), based on 697 iNaturalist observations. 29 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Pearl-spotted Owlet on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Pearl-spotted Owlet?

The Pearl-spotted Owlet is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.