Alternative name: Ceylon Bay Owl
- Phodilus assimilis
Identification
A chunky, short-winged and short-tailed Owl. Much darker and browner than Oriental Bay Owl. Heavy black and white spots on a vermiculated background. Heavy bars on wings and tail. Heart-shaped face. Golden collar and patches on scapulars, wing-coverts and tertials.
Sexes similar, juveniles undescribed.
Distribution
Found in Sri Lanka and southwest India (Kerala).
Taxonomy
Formerly considered a subspecies of Oriental Bay Owl. Two subspecies recognized:
Habitat
Evergreen forest, mixed forest, mangrove edge.
Behaviour
It nests in hollow trees and tree stumps, laying between 3-5 eggs.
Its diet includes small mammals, small birds, reptiles, frogs and insects.
It is completely nocturnal.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Sri Lanka Bay Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sri_Lanka_Bay_Owl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
