Sokoke scops owl
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Sokoke scops owl ( Otus ireneae ) |
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| Ripley , 1966 |
The Sokoke Zwergohreule ( Otus ireneae ) is an owl from the genus of scops owl . Their occurrence is limited to a small area in East Africa .
description
The length is 16 to 18 centimeters with a weight of 45 to 55 grams. There is a gray, a dark brown and a reddish morph , as well as transitional forms. While the reddish morph is largely monochrome apart from white shoulder spots, the gray and brown shapes also have white dots with black tips and dark scribbles on the gray-brown underside. The inconspicuous feather ears are spotted, the eyes pale yellow, the beak light greenish yellow.
Way of life
The Sokoke scops owl inhabits mainly Cynometra forests, rarely Brachystegia forests. It is a pure insect eater that mainly catches beetles. The call consists of a series of five to nine high -pitched whistling tones guuhk-guuhk repeated at intervals of several seconds at a rate of three tones in two seconds.
distribution
The monotypic species lives endemically in Kenya in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest and in northeastern Tanzania in the Usambara mountain forest up to 400 meters above sea level. The population in Kenya is around 800 pairs. Due to its narrowly limited range , the Sokoke Scops Owl is endangered.
literature
- Heimo Mikkola: Handbook owls of the world. All 249 species in 750 color photos. Original title: Owls of the World. A photographic guide. 2012, German-language edition, Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co.KG, Stuttgart 2013, ISBN 978-3-440-13275-3 , p. 134.