Guinea Eagle Owl
| Guinea Eagle Owl | ||||||||||
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Guinea Eagle Owl ( Bubo poensis ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Bubo poensis | ||||||||||
| Fraser , 1853 |
The Guinea Eagle Owl ( Bubo poensis ) is a species from the family of real owls. It occurs exclusively in West and Central Africa.
features
The Guinea eagle owl is a relatively small species of eagle owl. It reaches a body length of 39 to 44 centimeters. Males are a bit smaller and lighter. Females weigh between 685 and 815 grams while males weigh around 575 grams.
The Guinea eagle owl has eye-catching feather ears and a darkly framed face veil . The toes are not feathered. The beak is pale blue-gray. The eyes are dark brown. The plumage is predominantly reddish and cream-colored. The broadly striped underside of the body, which is slightly lighter than the upper side, is striking. There are also dark spots on the front chest that are very dense, especially on the sides of the chest.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area extends from the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea over the tropical rainforests of West Africa to the Congo and southwest Uganda. In the southern direction of distribution, the Guinea eagle owl occurs as far as the extreme northwest of Angola. Its habitat are predominantly primary rainforests of the lowlands, where it mainly inhabits forest edges and clearings. Secondary forest is also populated and it also occurs on cardamom plantations . In Cameroon it can still be found at altitudes of 1,600 meters above sea level.
Way of life
The Guinea eagle owl is one of the species of eagle owl whose way of life has only been very superficially examined. He is crepuscular and nocturnal. It projects in the thick canopy of trees. The food spectrum includes small mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles as well as insects and spiders. The beginning of the breeding period varies depending on the distribution area: In Liberia it breeds in the period February to May, in Cameroon, however, in the period July to December. There is evidence that it breeds both directly on the ground and in tree hollows.
supporting documents
Single receipts
literature
- Claus König , Friedhelm Weick: Owls of the World . Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2
Web link
- Bubo poensis inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . 2. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2014.