Alternative name: Luzon Hawk-Owl
- Ninox philippensis
Identification
Earless species.
This species has a white spot the eyes and the beak and a white moustache forming an x-shape on the head. The upper parts of all subspecies are brown and the wings are covered with oval shaped white spots. The tail is dark brown with narrow white stripes. The sides of the head are brown, the chin is of a whitish colour, while the rest of the bottom side is pale white with wide brown stripes (which are more prominent on the belly). The bottom side of the tail is white. The chequered subspecies have these chequered patterns on the bottom side, on the head, the upper parts of the back and the wings. The paws are halfway covered with feathers. The beak is olive coloured. The paws are pale yellow.
This species grows (including the tail) to a length of 21 to 26,5 cm and has a wingspan of 16,5 to 20,5 cm.
Distribution
Northern Philippines
Taxonomy
Three subspecies are recognized[1]:
- N.p. philippensis on Luzon, Panay, Negros, Bohol, Samar, and Leyte, and associated smaller islands: Bilaran, Boracay, Buad, Carabao, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Lubang, Marinduque, Masbate, Polillo, and Semirara
- N.p. ticaoensis on Ticao
- N.p. centralis on Guimaras, Negros, Panay and Siquijor
It was formerly included in Philippine Hawk-Owl.
Habitat
Forest
Behaviour
This species mates around February. The nests can be found in hollow trees.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- König, C. and F. Weick 2008. Owls of the World, second edition. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
