African barred owlet

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African barred owlet
In Kruger National Park, South Africa

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Glaucidium
Species:
G. capense
Binomial name
Glaucidium capense
(Smith, 1834)

The African barred owlet (Glaucidium capense) is a species of small

Strigidae
found in much of southern, central and eastern Africa. The taxon may be four species rather than a single species.

Description

The African barred owlet is a small owlet that shows some geographic variation (see Taxonomy). The nominate

cere are dull greenish yellow and the eyes, legs and feet are yellow. Length is about 17 cm (6.7 in) and wingspan is about 40 cm (16 in).[3]

Call

The call of the African barred owlet is a series of single pitched purring notes.[3]

Distribution and habitat

G. capense is endemic to

Eastern Africa from Kenya and the Eastern Cape to Western Angola.[4]

The African barred owlet occurs in open habitats with trees such as gallery forest, woodland, forest edge and secondary growth.[4]

Behaviour

The African barred owlet is partly diurnal. Calling occurs mainly at dusk and dawn but also through the night on calm and clear nights. It is frequently observed on open perches scanning for prey, even during the day. It roosts within cover, often in a natural cavity in a tree. If they are detected by other birds during the day they will often be subjected to mobbing. The African barred owlet feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, scorpions and caterpillars which are normally caught following a short flight from a perch.[4]

Both sexes call to proclaim their territory, most frequently before breeding. The nest site is usually a tree cavity 3–6 m (9.8–19.7 ft) from the ground. Two or three eggs are laid from September to November. The young are fed by both parents but only in the dark, fledging after 30–33 days and becoming independent after 7–12 months.[4]

Taxonomy

There are currently three subspecies recognised but many authorities recognise each of these as a separate species.[4] Others in the complex like G. capense etchecopari (or Etchecopar's barred owl) are of uncertain status.[5] The subspecies are:[6]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22689290A111870445.en
    . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-85974-100-2
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 1-873403-74-7
    .
  5. ISSN 0007-1595
    .
  6. ^ "African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense (Smith, A, 1834)". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 29 October 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glaucidium capense.
Wikispecies has information related to Glaucidium capense.
  • African barred owlet (formerly called barred owl in southern Africa) - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
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