Brown Wood-Owl
Strix leptogrammica
Large, solemn-looking brown owl with deep black eyes. Varies in plumage throughout its extensive range but always has a dark-bordered pale face, fine barring on wings and underparts, and sooty areas around the eyes. Inhabits lowland and montane broadleaf forests and adjacent edges. Gives a short burst of loud, reverberating hoots.
Identification
The brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica) is found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Taiwan, and south China. The brown wood owl is a resident breeder in south Asia. This species is a part of the family of owls known as typical owls (Strigidae), which contains most species of owl. It belongs to the earless owl genus Strix. The brown wood owl is medium large (45–57 cm), with upperparts uniformly dark brown, with faint white spotting on the shoulders. The underparts are buff with brown streaking. The facial disc is brown or rufous, edged with white and without concentric barring, and the eyes are dark brown. There is a white neckband. The sexes are similar in appearance. Their call is a (hoo) hoo hoo HOO, or a deep goke-goke-ga-LOOO, or a loud scream. Their alarm call is a bark, wow-wow. Some subspecies are known to produce distinct vocalizations; they are also different in appearance and parapatric, and might be distinct species: The northern Strix (leptogrammica) newarensis group (Himalayan wood-owl; present subspecies newarensis, ticehursti, laotiana and caligata) which occur from the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir east to Taiwan have a soft low to-hooh not unlike a rock dove cooing. S. (l.) bartelsi (Bartels's wood-owl), Javan wood-owl from Java, the southeasternmost taxon, has a loud, forceful, single HOOH! with long pauses between calls. This species is highly nocturnal and is commonly found in dense forests. It can often be located by the small birds that mob it while it is roosting in a tree. The diet of the brown wood owl consists mainly of small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Taxonomy
Genus: Strix; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.
- Scientific name
- Strix leptogrammica
- Authority
- Temminck, 1832
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Strix
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Forest Thrush
Turdus lherminieri
An uncommon robin-shaped inhabitant of moist forests where it is usually found feeding on insects and fruits. Its rich gray-brown upperparts and head, combined with bold scaly underparts make it unmistakable within its range. The call is a loud smack. Sings a variety of whistles and other sounds, often uttered in distinct phrases usually from a concealed mid-level perch.
Bare-faced Curassow
Crax fasciolata
Very large terrestrial species. Males are mostly black with a curly crest and a white belly and vent. Note the yellow knob on a black-tipped bill. Females are barred black and white above and have a buffy belly and vent, a black bill with some yellow at the base of the lower bill. Usually found in humid forests and gallery forests foraging singly or in pairs; can be very tame. Commonest call is a high-pitched whistled “kseuw.”
Green-capped Eremomela
Eremomela scotops
Fairly small, pretty bird with a typical warbler shape. The back and crown are olive-green, the breast is whitish, and the belly varies geographically from whitish to yellow. Found in broadleaved woodland and moist savanna. Active, restless bird. Usually in small flocks, and often mixes with other species. Calls are series of low whistles and rough “brrit” notes, sometimes given excitedly by a whole group. The olive-green crown separates it from other eremomelas. Similar to white-eyes, but lacks white crescents around the eye.
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