Solomon Owl

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Solomon Owl
Solomon owl (Figure 1) illustrated by Paul Louis Oudart (1796– ca 1860): Figure 2 shows the cuckoo owl (Ninox boobook ocellata).

Solomon owl (Figure 1) illustrated by Paul Louis Oudart (1796– ca 1860): Figure 2 shows the cuckoo owl ( Ninox boobook ocellata ).

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Owls (Strigiformes)
Family : Real owls (Strigidae)
Genre : Bush owls ( Ninox )
Type : Solomon Owl
Scientific name
Ninox jacquinoti
( Bonaparte , 1850)

The Solomon Owl ( Ninox jacquinoti ) is a small to medium-sized species of owl from the genus of the bush owl ( Ninox ). It occurs exclusively in the Solomon Islands .

Several subspecies are distinguished. Even the Makirakauz which Guadalcanalkauz and Malaitakauz were long considered subspecies of this owl. However, the Handbook of the Birds of the World has been supporting the recognition of the three owls as an independent species since 2014. Unlike these three species, the population of the Solomon Owl is considered to be harmless ( least concern ).

features

The Solomon Owl reaches a size of 25 to 30 centimeters, of which 8.7 to 12 centimeters are on the tail. The weight is around 175 grams.

The face is light brown with and around the eyes and base of the beak. The face veil is brownish. The top of the body is dark red-brown to dark brown with numerous white spots. The feathers are also lined with pale brown on the top. The wing covers are also spotted white, the wings are dark brown and have small white spots. The tail is dark brown with five to seven narrow vesicular transverse bands. In some individuals, however, the middle pair of control springs has no transverse straps. The throat is whitish, the chest is brown with a lighter, blurred transverse banding. The legs are feathered up to the toes. The eyes are yellow to orange-yellow. The beak is pale olive brown.

Distribution area and habitat

The Solomon Owl is found on almost all islands in the Solomon Islands. Its habitat are tall primary and secondary forests up to altitudes of 1500 meters. It can also be found in small wooded areas and near gardens.

Way of life

The Solomon Owl lives solitary or in pairs. During the day he often sits in the forks of mighty trees or in the shade of overhanging branches. Usually these resting places are 15 meters above the ground. Its diet consists mainly of insects and other arthropods . It probably also eats small vertebrates.

literature

  • del Hoyo, J .; Collar, NJ; Christie, DA; Elliott, A .; Fishpool, LDC 2014: HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, ​​Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.
  • Claus König, Friedhelm Weick, Jan-Hendrik Becking: Owls of the World . 2nd Edition. Christopher Helm, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-7136-6548-2 .
  • Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte: Conspectus generum avium . tape 1 . EJ Brill, Leiden 1850 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).

Web links

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Ninox jacquinoti in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2016.10. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  2. ↑ a b König et al .: Owls of the World , p. 467