Papuan Boobook
Ninox theomacha
The commonest owl from lowland and montane forest and edge. Fairly small, with dark brown back and rich chocolate brown chest. Short, pale eyebrows forming a V-shape. Birds in some areas have broad white streaks on the belly and white flecking on the back. Often catches flying insects from a perched position. Told from the other co-occuring New Guinea Owls by the smaller size and lack of strong streaks or bars. Call a double, downslurred “hooo-hooo!” with a gravely quality, repeated at intervals.
Identification
The Papuan boobook (Ninox theomacha), jungle boobook or jungle hawk owl, is a medium-sized, dark-colored owl. It has a dark gray-brown facial disk with lighter colored eyebrows, sooty or chocolate underparts, and mainly dark gray wings. It lives mainly in lowland forests, montane forests, and submontane forests, mainly on the forests' edges. It is native to New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ninox; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ninox theomacha
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1855)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Ninox
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Red-legged Partridge
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