North bush owl

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North bush owl
Northern tufted owls (Ptilopsis leucotis)

Northern tufted owls ( Ptilopsis leucotis )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Ptilopsis
Type : North bush owl
Scientific name
Ptilopsis leucotis
( Temminck , 1820)

The northern tufted owl ( Ptilopsis leucotis , syn .: Otus leucotis ) is a medium-sized and very contrastingly colored owl species from the family of real owls (Strigidae). The South Bush Owl ( Ptilopsis granti ) was separated from Ptilopsis leucotis as a separate species a few years ago . The distribution area of ​​the northern tufted owl covers a wide zone across the African continent, the southern edge of the Sahara and the northeastern tip of Africa from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Somalia in the east. The animals inhabit the savannah with individual trees, light dry forests, woodland with closed tree layers, forest edges and clearings and forests that are not too dense along the river. The diet consists of arthropods and small vertebrates . The IUCN does not yet list the north and south tufted owls as separate species, both species together are classified by the IUCN as " least concern " due to their large distribution area and the apparently stable population .

description

Northern tufted owls are medium-sized owls with large feather ears, feathered toes up to half their length and serrated claws on the sides. The body length is 24 to 25 cm, the average weight of 16 birds 204 g. As with most owls, the sexes do not differ in color, but females are larger than males.

The basic color is quite variable and according to König and Weick two color morphs can be distinguished. In adult birds of the light morph, the entire upper side of the trunk and the upper wing-coverts are dense blackish dashed and weakly wavy banded on a pale gray-brown background. The shoulder feathers show white outside flags with a black border. The wings and control springs also have dark gray-brown bands on a pale gray-brown background. The underside of the fuselage and wings is drawn in the same way as the upper side, but a bit lighter overall.

The color is rich in contrast on the head. The whitish face veil is sharply set off from the rest of the head plumage by a wide black border. The feather ears are banded in black, the outer flags show more black than the inner flags. The area around the base of the beak and the rest of the head and neck are colored in the same way as the rest of the top. The beak is yellowish horn-colored. The featherless parts of the toes are dark brown, the claws blackish. The iris is deep amber yellow to orange.

Birds of the dark morph are much darker overall and the plumage shows a shade of ocher. The face veil is brownish white, the top of the head blackish and the feather ears show blackish centers. The youth dress does not differ from the adult dress.

Vocalizations

The male's courtship call is a two-syllable, melodic flute "poh-proooh" that is repeated several times at intervals of 4 to 8 seconds. The female's song is similar but quieter and higher in pitch. The birds sing from a control room at night, the highest singing activity during the day is at dusk and just before dawn. At the beginning of the breeding season, the male sings particularly intensely, using various waiting areas and also sings at potential breeding sites. At courtship, both partners often sing in a duet.

A quiet "to-whit-to-whiit" presumably serves as a contact call for the couple . Young birds beg with hissing sounds.

distribution and habitat

The distribution area of ​​the northern tufted owl covers a wide zone across the African continent, the southern edge of the Sahara and the northeastern tip of Africa from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Somalia in the east. The animals inhabit the savannah with individual trees, light dry forests, woodland with closed tree layers, forest edges and clearings and forests that are not too dense along the river.

Systematics

The South Bush Owl ( Ptilopsis granti ) was separated from Ptilopsis leucotis as a separate species a few years ago . Birds of the dark morph were previously described as a subspecies of their own ( P. l. Nigrovertex ), but occur in the same area as the light morph and also form mixed breeding pairs with this, so there is no justification for separating them as a subspecies. No subspecies are recognized today.

nutrition

The diet consists of arthropods such as moths , crickets , beetles , scorpions and spiders, as well as small vertebrates , especially rodents and shrews . The birds hunt from a stand guard and watch the ground, the prey is then flown to and grabbed on the ground.

Reproduction

Northern tufted owls live in pairs in territories that are defended against conspecifics by both pair partners. In favorable years, occupied territories can be close together, in one case four breeding pairs were found on an area of ​​10 km² and the smallest distance between two occupied nests was about 200 m. Tree hollows or crevices are used for breeding, but also old branch nests of larger bird species in trees or bushes are often used. The breeding places are mostly 2 to 8 m high. The male offers the female potential nesting sites. Oviposition was detected between January and September. The clutch consists of 1 to 4, usually 2 or 3, white, shiny eggs, which are only incubated by the female for about 30 days. The nestlings are also tucked and fed exclusively by the female, during this time the male provides the female and then also the nestlings with food. The young birds reach the branching stage at around 27 days of age and can then leave the nest and climb onto neighboring branches. They are fully airworthy after 30 to 32 days, but are then guarded and provided with food by both parents for at least 14 days.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Claus König, Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2 : p. 315

literature

Web links

Commons : Nordbüscheleule  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files