Could you win a staring contest with this spotted owlet? These primarily nocturnal owls are sometimes mobbed during the day by birds trying to defend their territory from predators. With their piercing yellow eyes, the small owls will stare down intruders, bob their heads, and emit a loud 'chirurrr-chirurrr-chirurrr' screech, sometimes likened to laughter or chuckling.

Standing around 8 inches tall, speckle-plumed spotted owlets can be found from Iran to Vietnam. This one was photographed in Bangkok, Thailand. They eat insects and small mammals like bats and mice, which they often store to eat later when food is scarce. Spotted owlets flourish in various environments, from semi-deserts, rocky areas, and forests to farmlands and urban areas. While they aren't endangered, the spotted owlet's population is thought to have declined, perhaps owing to loss of habitat and increased urbanization.