Palawan Scops-Owl
Otus fuliginosus
A fairly small owl of lowland forest. Dark brown above with a white bar behind the shoulder, and paler and warmer brown below with black marks. Note the wide, shallow V-shape stretching from between the eyes out to the ends of the prominent ear tufts, and the dark facial shield incompletely bordered with white below. Eyes are deep orange. Similar to Mantanani Scops-Owl, which only occurs on small offshore islands off Palawan, but differs in eye color. Voice is a low rasping croak, “gruk grrrrrrrrr.”
Identification
EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small owl of lowland forest. Dark brown above with a white bar behind the shoulder, and paler and warmer brown below with black marks. Note the wide, shallow V-shape stretching from between the eyes out to the ends of the prominent ear tufts, and the dark facial shield incompletely bordered with white below. Eyes are deep orange. Similar to Mantanani Scops-Owl, which only occurs on small offshore islands off Palawan, but differs in eye color. Voice is a low rasping croak, 'gruk grrrrrrrrr'."
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Otus fuliginosus
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1888)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
Its habitat is in tropical moist lowland primary and secondary forest and even mixed cultivated areas – as long as there are still trees.<p>IUCN has assessed this bird as near threatened with the population being estimated at 10,000 to 19,999 mature individuals remaining. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining and conversion into farmlands through slash-and-burn or other methods.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Pacific Flatbill
Rhynchocyclus pacificus
Shy and inconspicuous flycatcher of lowland and foothill rainforest in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Plumage is mostly olive with yellowish streaks on underparts, gray eyering, and brown patches in wings. Bill is very wide at the base, though this may not be evident when the bird is seen from the side. Similar to Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, but Pacific lacks tawny breast and is usually found at lower elevations. Also similar to Olivaceous Flatbill, but has brown (not yellow) in the wings. Typically found alone or in pairs at fairly low levels inside the forest, and sometimes joins mixed-species flocks.
Black-and-white Antbird
Myrmochanes hemileucus
Small antbird, black above and white below. Females have obvious white lores. Resembles a miniature Great Antshrike with a black rather than red eye. Inhabits the understory of river islands with a high density of Cecropia trees. The song is a dry trill, resembling a rattle.
Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus axillaris
Small, striking gray and white raptor with black shoulder patches. Underparts white with two black patches on underwing, extending from "wrist" to wingtips. Legs and feet yellow. Eyes are bright red, and dark markings behind the eye end in a sharp point. Hovers over grasslands searching for prey. Perches on exposed branches and dead trees. Common in agricultural areas and around the edges of towns.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.