The white-browed owl (Athene superciliaris), also known as the white-browed hawk-owl or the Madagascar hawk-owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
The white-browed owl was formerly placed in the genus Ninox but recent genetic data has led to it being moved to the genus Athene.[4]
Descriptionedit
White-browed owl gives food to mate at the Berenty Reserve in 2003
The white-browed owl is a dumpy owl with a large, rounded head which does not have ear tufts. The adults have brown upperparts with white spotting on the crown, mantle and wing coverts and a grey-brown facial disc with bold white eyebrows and a buff chin. The underparts are buff, broadly barred with dark brown. The underwings, vent and legs are plain, pale buff and the tail is plain brown. The bill and cere are horn-coloured, the eyes are dark brown and legs and feet are pale yellow. The length is about 25 cm (9.8 in) and the wingspan is about 70 cm (28 in).[5]
Voiceedit
The song is a howling "woohoo" made at intervals, beginning quite hoarsely. Another call is a loud "kuang", louder and higher pitched at its start, which may be an aggression call.[6]
Distribution and habitatedit
The white-browed owl is endemic to Madagascar where it is found in the northeast, the south and the southwest.[6]
It is commonest in the drier forests and gallery forests of the south and west of Madagascar, and rather less common in the humid rainforest in the northeast. It also occurs in cultivated areas and secondary forest. It is found mainly in the lowlands, with an upper limit of 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level.[5]
Behaviouredit
The white-browed owl nests from October to December and the nest is a shallow scrape in the ground in which 3-5 white eggs are laid. The breeding behaviour is little known.[6] It is a strictly nocturnal species which feeds mainly on insects and small vertebrates which are caught from a perch.[6] It may also hawk insects and bats in flight.[5]
^BirdLife International (2016). "Athene superciliaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22689425A93230481. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689425A93230481.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^"White-browed Owl (Athene superciliaris)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ abcKemp, Alan; Kemp, Meg (1998). SASOL Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands. New Holland. pp. 288–289. ISBN1-85974-100-2.
^ abcdKönig, Claus; Weick, Friedhelm; Becking, Jan-Hendrick (1999). Owls A Guide to the Owls of the World. Pica Press. pp. 409–410. ISBN1-873403-74-7.
Further readingedit
Koparde, P.; Mehta, P.; Reddy, S.; Ramakrishnan, U.; Mukherjee, S.; Robin, V.V. (2018). "The critically endangered forest owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the currently recognized Athene clade: A century-old debate addressed". PLOS ONE. 13 (2): e0192359. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1392359K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192359. PMC5798823. PMID 29401484.
May 03, 2024
white, browed, white, browed, athene, superciliaris, also, known, white, browed, hawk, madagascar, hawk, species, family, strigidae, endemic, madagascar, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientific, classification, domain, eu. The white browed owl Athene superciliaris also known as the white browed hawk owl or the Madagascar hawk owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae It is endemic to Madagascar White browed owl Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 2 CITES Appendix II CITES 3 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Genus Athene Species A superciliaris 1 Binomial name Athene superciliaris 1 Vieillot 1817 Synonyms Ninox superciliaris Vieillot 1817 Strix superciliaris Vieillot 1817 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 2 1 Voice 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 References 6 Further readingTaxonomy editThe white browed owl was formerly placed in the genus Ninox but recent genetic data has led to it being moved to the genus Athene 4 Description edit nbsp White browed owl gives food to mate at the Berenty Reserve in 2003 The white browed owl is a dumpy owl with a large rounded head which does not have ear tufts The adults have brown upperparts with white spotting on the crown mantle and wing coverts and a grey brown facial disc with bold white eyebrows and a buff chin The underparts are buff broadly barred with dark brown The underwings vent and legs are plain pale buff and the tail is plain brown The bill and cere are horn coloured the eyes are dark brown and legs and feet are pale yellow The length is about 25 cm 9 8 in and the wingspan is about 70 cm 28 in 5 Voice edit The song is a howling woohoo made at intervals beginning quite hoarsely Another call is a loud kuang louder and higher pitched at its start which may be an aggression call 6 Distribution and habitat editThe white browed owl is endemic to Madagascar where it is found in the northeast the south and the southwest 6 It is commonest in the drier forests and gallery forests of the south and west of Madagascar and rather less common in the humid rainforest in the northeast It also occurs in cultivated areas and secondary forest It is found mainly in the lowlands with an upper limit of 800 m 2 600 ft above sea level 5 Behaviour editThe white browed owl nests from October to December and the nest is a shallow scrape in the ground in which 3 5 white eggs are laid The breeding behaviour is little known 6 It is a strictly nocturnal species which feeds mainly on insects and small vertebrates which are caught from a perch 6 It may also hawk insects and bats in flight 5 References edit White browed Owl Athene superciliaris Vieillot 1817 Avibase Denis Lepage Retrieved 29 October 2016 BirdLife International 2016 Athene superciliaris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22689425A93230481 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22689425A93230481 en Retrieved 14 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 White browed Owl Athene superciliaris Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Retrieved 29 October 2016 a b c Kemp Alan Kemp Meg 1998 SASOL Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands New Holland pp 288 289 ISBN 1 85974 100 2 a b c d Konig Claus Weick Friedhelm Becking Jan Hendrick 1999 Owls A Guide to the Owls of the World Pica Press pp 409 410 ISBN 1 873403 74 7 Further reading editKoparde P Mehta P Reddy S Ramakrishnan U Mukherjee S Robin V V 2018 The critically endangered forest owlet Heteroglaux blewitti is nested within the currently recognized Athene clade A century old debate addressed PLOS ONE 13 2 e0192359 Bibcode 2018PLoSO 1392359K doi 10 1371 journal pone 0192359 PMC 5798823 PMID 29401484 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White browed owl amp oldid 1188551370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
