Sulawesi Masked-Owl
Tyto rosenbergii
A very large barn-owl with a gray facial disk, gray crown, and rufous upperparts and wings with scattered dark markings. Prefers open country, like agricultural land, plantations, and forest edge, from lowlands to mountains. Limited to Sulawesi. Distinguished from smaller Minahassa Masked-Owl by gray face, gray forecrown, more extensive dark markings across wings and upperparts, and preference for open country. Distinguished from Australasian Grass-Owl by feathered legs that do not project beyond the tail in flight, and by less contrasting wing pattern. Call is a long screeching note.
Identification
The Sulawesi masked owl grows to a length of about 43 to 46 cm (17 to 18 in). The upperparts of the male are charcoal grey with scattered white spots and streaks. The underparts are buff with dark spots and streaks and the facial mask is white or whitish-brown. The call is an eerie, long drawn-out screech and is usually emitted in flight.
Taxonomy
The Sulawesi masked owl was first described by the German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel in 1866 as Strix rosenbergii, but was later included in the genus Tyto. The specific name "rosenbergii" refers to the German surveyor and naturalist Hermann von Rosenberg who collected bird specimens in the East Indies and sent them to the National Museum of Natural History in Leiden to be classified. There are two subspecies, T. r. rosenbergii (Schlegel, 1866), found in Sulawesi and Sangihe, and T. r. pelengensis Neumann, 1939, found in Peleng in the Banggai Island group. Other common names for this bird include Rosenberg's owl, Rosenberg's barn-owl, Sulawesi owl, Sulawesi barn-owl, Celebes barn-owl, Celebes masked-owl and Celebes owl.
- Scientific name
- Tyto rosenbergii
- Authority
- (Schlegel, 1866)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Tytonidae
- Genus
- Tyto
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Little is known of the ecology of the Sulawesi masked owl. It hunts at night in secondary forest, agricultural land, grassland and open country. Examination of pellets regurgitated by this owl in a cave showed that the diet includes rats and shrews. This owl is commonly encountered in cultivated areas and scrubland on early morning visits to the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve in the north of Sulawesi.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Andean Flicker
Colaptes rupicola
No similar species in its Andean range. Fairly common in open puna and páramo habitats; often near bogs in south of its range and in trees around timberline in north of its range. Mainly feeds on the ground. Nests in cavities in dirt bluffs, walls of old buildings, sometimes in colonies. Note the gray crown and buffy face with a dark whisker (on both sexes, but tipped red on male), big white rump patch, and yellow shafts to wing feathers (mainly visible in flight).
Celestial Monarch
Hypothymis coelestis
A fairly small, rather long-tailed bird of lowland forest. Has turquoise wings and tail, an indigo chest and neck, a pale blue crown and crest, and a white belly. The male is brighter blue and has a longer crest than the female. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has a crest. Also similar to Short-crested Monarch, but is paler blue with a longer crest. Song is a short series of clear piping notes, ”pii-pii-pii.”
Amazonian Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium hardyi
Tiny owl of Amazonian lowlands. Found in a variety of habitats, including forest edges and mature rainforest. Gray head contrasts against broad reddish brown streaks down its white belly. Round head without ear tufts and largely white undersides distinguish it from screech-owls. Similar to larger Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, but has a smaller, grayer head, and is less finely streaked. Also note vocal differences; Amazonian Pygmy-owl call is a rapid, slightly descending series of toots too fast to imitate. Sings mostly around dawn and dusk, but also sometimes during the day and at night.
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