The greyish eagle-owl or vermiculated eagle-owl (Bubo cinerascens) is a rather large owl of the northern part of sub-Saharan Africa. It was previously regarded as the northern subspecies of the spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus).
This species is about 43 cm (17 in) long and weighs about 500 g (18 oz).[3] Like the spotted eagle-owl, the greyish eagle-owl has mottled dark brown, buff, and white upperparts and finely barred (vermiculated) underparts giving a greyish-brown appearance. It differs from the spotted eagle-owl in having dark brown (not yellow) eyes and a brownish facial disk marked with a heavy brown circle around each eye.[4] It also has morphological differences, such as being lighter though about the same length and having shorter tarsi.
Voice
As the greyish eagle-owl was considered the northern form of the spotted eagle-owl until recently their vocalisations have not been well studied. The call of the male recorded in West Africa consisted of two clear syllables and has been rendered as "koo-whoo" where the "koo" part is rather explosive and the "whoo" is somewhat downward inflected, lower pitched and extended. This call is made every few seconds and is thus not similar to that of the spotted eagle-owl.[5]
Distribution and habitat
It is found in the northern part of sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania and Liberia east to Sudan and Somalia.[6] Its habitats include dry rocky deserts and open savannah, as well as lowland forests in Somalia.[3]
Biology
Roosts during the day are hidden and vary from rocky natural sites such as cliff crevices and boulders to bushes and trees to man-made structures. It feeds on larger insects and other large arthropods as well as vertebrates. It usually hunts from a perch, using a sit-and-wait technique, but may also hawk insects and sometimes bats in flight. The breeding biology is probably similar to the spotted eagle-owl. It lays 2 or 3 eggs in a scrape on the ground or among rocks or in a sheltered cliff site, although it will sometimes reuse the old platform-like nests of larger birds in trees.[5]
Taxonomic note
It is closely related to the spotted eagle-owl, of which is it sometimes considered the northern subspecies, Bubo africanus cinerascens.[4][6] In the area of overlap with the spotted eagle-owl in Kenya and the Horn of Africa, the two species are not known to interbreed.[3][5]
References
^BirdLife International (2016). "Bubo cinerascens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T61741660A95178482. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61741660A95178482.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ abcWeick, Friedhelm (2006), Owls (Strigiformes): Annotated and Illustrated Checklist, Springer, pp. 111–113, ISBN978-3-540-35234-1
^ abZimmerman, Dale A.; Turner, Donald A.; Pearson, David J. (1999), Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, Princeton University Press, pp. 128–9, 374, ISBN978-0-691-01022-9
^ abcKönig, Claus; Weick, Friedhelm; Becking, Jan-Hendrick (1999). Owls A Guide to the Owls of the World. Pica Press. pp. 301–302. ISBN1-873403-74-7.
^ abLepage, Denis (2003–2007), Avibase - the world bird database, retrieved Sep 22, 2007
External links
Videos of the Greyish Eagle-Owl from the Internet Bird Collection
May 04, 2023
greyish, eagle, greyish, eagle, vermiculated, eagle, bubo, cinerascens, rather, large, northern, part, saharan, africa, previously, regarded, northern, subspecies, spotted, eagle, bubo, africanus, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, cites, appendix, cite. The greyish eagle owl or vermiculated eagle owl Bubo cinerascens is a rather large owl of the northern part of sub Saharan Africa It was previously regarded as the northern subspecies of the spotted eagle owl Bubo africanus Greyish eagle owlConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder StrigiformesFamily StrigidaeGenus BuboSpecies B cinerascensBinomial nameBubo cinerascensGuerin Meneville 1843 Lake Bogoria Kenya Contents 1 Description 2 Voice 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Biology 5 Taxonomic note 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditThis species is about 43 cm 17 in long and weighs about 500 g 18 oz 3 Like the spotted eagle owl the greyish eagle owl has mottled dark brown buff and white upperparts and finely barred vermiculated underparts giving a greyish brown appearance It differs from the spotted eagle owl in having dark brown not yellow eyes and a brownish facial disk marked with a heavy brown circle around each eye 4 It also has morphological differences such as being lighter though about the same length and having shorter tarsi Voice EditAs the greyish eagle owl was considered the northern form of the spotted eagle owl until recently their vocalisations have not been well studied The call of the male recorded in West Africa consisted of two clear syllables and has been rendered as koo whoo where the koo part is rather explosive and the whoo is somewhat downward inflected lower pitched and extended This call is made every few seconds and is thus not similar to that of the spotted eagle owl 5 Distribution and habitat EditIt is found in the northern part of sub Saharan Africa from Mauritania and Liberia east to Sudan and Somalia 6 Its habitats include dry rocky deserts and open savannah as well as lowland forests in Somalia 3 Biology EditRoosts during the day are hidden and vary from rocky natural sites such as cliff crevices and boulders to bushes and trees to man made structures It feeds on larger insects and other large arthropods as well as vertebrates It usually hunts from a perch using a sit and wait technique but may also hawk insects and sometimes bats in flight The breeding biology is probably similar to the spotted eagle owl It lays 2 or 3 eggs in a scrape on the ground or among rocks or in a sheltered cliff site although it will sometimes reuse the old platform like nests of larger birds in trees 5 Taxonomic note EditIt is closely related to the spotted eagle owl of which is it sometimes considered the northern subspecies Bubo africanus cinerascens 4 6 In the area of overlap with the spotted eagle owl in Kenya and the Horn of Africa the two species are not known to interbreed 3 5 References Edit BirdLife International 2016 Bubo cinerascens IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T61741660A95178482 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T61741660A95178482 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b c Weick Friedhelm 2006 Owls Strigiformes Annotated and Illustrated Checklist Springer pp 111 113 ISBN 978 3 540 35234 1 a b Zimmerman Dale A Turner Donald A Pearson David J 1999 Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania Princeton University Press pp 128 9 374 ISBN 978 0 691 01022 9 a b c Konig Claus Weick Friedhelm Becking Jan Hendrick 1999 Owls A Guide to the Owls of the World Pica Press pp 301 302 ISBN 1 873403 74 7 a b Lepage Denis 2003 2007 Avibase the world bird database retrieved Sep 22 2007External links EditVideos of the Greyish Eagle Owl from the Internet Bird Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greyish eagle owl amp oldid 1118276518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
