A Zhongshan resident surnamed Liao surprisingly spotted a Cuckoo owlet (also known as Asian barred owlet, or commonly 'little owl') resting on a kapok branch in a residential complex in Zhongshan's East District on March 23.

Cuckoo owlets are second-class protected wild animals in China. They usually act alone or in pairs, primarily feeding on insects and rodents. They are beneficial birds for agriculture and forestry. Unlike other owls, Cuckoo owlets are mostly active and doing hunting during the daytime.

It is rare to find Cuckoo owlets in Zhongshan, says Mr Liao, adding that the presence of this little animal shows the beauty of biodiversity and improving ecological environment of Zhongshan.