African Tawny Owl

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African Tawny Owl
Two African Wood Owls (Strix woodfordii) .jpg

African Tawny Owl ( Strix woodfordii )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Strix
Type : African Tawny Owl
Scientific name
Strix woodfordii
( A. Smith , 1834)
Nestling

The African tawny owl ( Strix woodfordii ), also called Woodford owl or Woodford tawny owl , is a species from the family of real owls (Strigidae) . It occurs exclusively in the southern half of Africa.

features

With a body size of about 30 to 35 centimeters, the African tawny owl is a medium-sized species within its genus. Feather ears are missing. The basic tone of the plumage is a warm brown. This is speckled with white on the top of the body. On the underside of the body it has gray and reddish-brown horizontal stripes on whitish to brownish plumage. The eyebrows are whitish. The eyes are dark brown. The beak and feathered toes are yellowish.

Distribution area and habitat

The distribution area of ​​the African tawny owl is the African continent south of the Sahel. It ranges from Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe. He also colonizes Mozambique and the Cape Province of South Africa. It is a resident bird that occurs mainly on the edge of primary forests, dense forest areas, forest areas along rivers and also on plantations. Its height distribution extends from the lowlands to altitudes of 3,700 meters above sea level.

Way of life

The African tawny owl is a nocturnal and twilight-active species. It transmits individually or in pairs in dense foliage, mostly high in trees. He is characterized by extensive stretching movements before he leaves his resting place at dusk to go hunting. Its food spectrum mainly includes insects. But it also eats frogs, reptiles, small mammals and small birds.

The African tawny owl is a year-round territorial species. At the beginning of the breeding season, its song can be heard particularly frequently. It nests mainly in tree hollows. The clutch usually consists of one to two eggs, which are laid two to four days apart. Only the female breeds, who takes up the breeding business with the laying of the first egg. It is supplied with food by the male during the breeding season. The incubation period is 31 days. The young birds hatch at a distance that corresponds to the laying distance. They are fidgeted by the female until they are about three weeks old. The young birds leave the nest box at 23 to 37 days, but are not yet able to fly at this point. They are usually able to fly at the age of 46 days.

supporting documents

Single receipts

  1. ↑ König et al., P. 365

literature

Web links