Mottled Wood-Owl
Strix ocellata
Medium-sized patchy-looking owl with dark eyes. Densely-marked orange-and-gray coloration is unique. Typically gives single hoots, but also gives an odd, mellow tremolo vocalization in the breeding season. A lowland species, favoring groves and clusters of trees in open plains and on the edges of cultivated areas.
Identification
This large owl lacks ear tufts and is mottled and vermiculated in reddish brown and white. The face disc is marked with fine concentric black and white barring. The sexes are alike. The chin is white. The eyelid is orange, and the iris is dark brown. The tail is barred narrowly in brown and black. The concentric barring on the face and mottled crown separate it from the brown wood owl in southern India.<p>There are three subspecies recognized and there are no sharp demarcations in their distributions.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Strix ocellata
- Authority
- (Lesson, RP, 1839)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Strix
Range and habitat
The species is found in the plains in gardens and lightly wooded habitats. They roost in trees during the day, choosing a branch with dense foliage. An old specimen from Lahore is noted, but no records in recent times from Pakistan. The distribution extends east to West Bengal. They are also seen in various parts of India. Recently a doctor named Dr Arpit Bansal based in Prayagraj captured its images. Also it was observed and images were captured by an enthusiastic photographer named Sachin Yadav in Kasimpur village of Azamgarh district, Uttar Pradesh.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
These owls roost during the day, usually in pairs. When disturbed they may fly in bright sunshine, although they choose to shelter within a dense grove of trees. They produce an eerie chuhua-aa call with a quaver in the second note. This call is an antiphonal duet of the male and female. The male calls one or two times followed by the female's shorter and less tremulous version. The calling is more frequent in November when they begin to breed. Most Nests are found from February to April. They also produce a single note hoot and a screech not unlike that of the barn owl. The nest is a tree hollow in which two to three white eggs are laid. They feed on palm squirrels, mice and other small mammals.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Black-rumped Flameback
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A common, “small-billed” golden-backed woodpecker with four toes. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Associated with every lowland wooded habitat except dense tropical forest, it often follows degradation into higher elevations. Separated from all other flamebacks except Red-backed by dark throat, lack of a contrasting black horizontal stripe below the cheek, and four toes. Separated from Red-backed by golden back and black shoulder. Often detected by its loud “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki,” which steadily increases in pace and ends in a trill.
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