Rare Jungle Owlet spotted in Bangladesh confirms new species record

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The Jungle Owlet, a bird species previously unrecorded in Bangladesh, has resurfaced in the country’s northern border region of Tetulia, Panchagarh, offering a glimmer of hope for conservationists after its mysterious disappearance from Rajshahi University.

The avian mystery began on October 13, 2021, when A.M. Saleh Reza, a professor in the Department of Zoology at Rajshahi University, encountered a strange, unfamiliar call near the campus’s iconic Paris Road. Initially mistaking the bird for a Spotted Owlet—a species common to the area—Professor Reza captured several photographs. Upon closer inspection of the images, he noted distinct physical markers: a smaller stature, reddish-brown plumage with fine striping, bright yellow eyes, and yellowish feet.

The identification sparked a debate among bird enthusiasts and experts. After the images were shared online, ornithologist Professor Monirul Khan of Jahangirnagar University identified the bird as a Jungle Owlet. This classification was later corroborated by birdwatchers Paul Thompson and Sayam Chowdhury, who analyzed the owl’s distinctive call and dorsal markings, confirming the species as a first for Bangladesh.

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Following the confirmation, the Rajshahi University campus became a focal point for researchers and birdwatchers from across the country. However, the excitement was tempered by the bird’s solitary existence. Professor Reza reported that he last heard or sighted the owl in April of last year. Whether the bird migrated to another location or succumbed to natural predators remains unknown, though experts suggest its isolation may have contributed to its eventual departure or demise.

The discovery in Panchagarh this past May, where local bird enthusiast Naimul Hasan documented a pair of Jungle Owlets approximately 200 meters inside the Indian border, suggests the species may have a more established, albeit elusive, presence in the region. While the lone owl that once captivated the Rajshahi University campus has fallen silent, the sightings in Tetulia indicate that the Jungle Owlet may be successfully inhabiting the dense border territories of Bangladesh.