Madagascar owl

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Madagascar owl

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: Asio
Species:
A. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Asio madagascariensis
(A. Smith, 1834)

The Madagascar owl (Asio madagascariensis), also known as the Madagascan owl or Madagascar long-eared owl,

conspecific with the long-eared owl (Asio otus).[4]

Description

The Madagascar owl is similar in appearance to the

Holarctic long-eared owl in that it sits tall and at rest shows prominent ear tufts. The plumage is mainly brown with darker streaks and bars. It has distinctive bright orange eyes. The adults are brown above, and mottled with buff, especially across the mantle. The face is plain dark buff, with darker brown feathers around the eyes, on the edge of the facial disc, and on the ear tufts. The underparts are light brown with darker brown streaks which fade away towards the vent. The juvenile is covered in white down contrasting with a black facial disk and dark brown wings.[5] It ranges from 40–50 cm (16–20 in) in length, making it the largest of the country's owls; females are larger than males.[3]

Its call is usually a series of barks, varying in pitch and volume, but sometimes it will utter a series of more hoot-like notes, described by some as ulooh.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Madagascar owl is endemic to Madagascar, where it is widespread in the west and centre of the island.[6] It is generally found at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft),[3] though it occasionally ranges as high as 1,800 m (5,900 ft).[7] It inhabits a variety of woodland habitats, mainly in the drier western forests, although it appears quite adaptable, and also occurs in degraded habitats, even on the central plateau where the forest cover has been fragmented.[6]

Behaviour

Like most owls, the Madagascar owl is

Microcebus spp.).[8]

Little is known about its breeding biology.[7] It is thought to lay its eggs in stick nests created by other animals, like the closely related long-eared owl.[6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asio madagascariensis.
Wikispecies has information related to Asio madagascariensis.
  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22689517A130164463.en
    . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-873403-45-3
    .
  4. ISBN 0-300-04969-2
    .
  5. ISBN 1-85974-100-2
    .
  6. ^ a b c "Madagascar Owl (Asio madagascariensis)". Planet of Birds. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-55297-845-1
    .
  8. ^ Goodman, Steven M.; Creighton, G. Ken; Raxworthy, Christopher (1991). "The Food Habits of the Madagascar Long-Eared Owl in south-eastern Madagascar". Bonner zoologische Beiträge. 42 (1): 21–26.
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