Maghreb Owl
Strix mauritanica
A medium-sized owl with deep black eyes, strictly nocturnal and infrequently seen. Gray to gray-brown overall with a big rounded head. Found at a broad range of elevations from sea level to high mountains, in woodland, forest, parkland, rocky areas, and sometimes towns and villages. Tends to roost well hidden in foliage during the day, when may be detected by tracking down the excited sound of small birds mobbing the owl. Comes out at night to hunt in clearings and more open areas. Most often detected by its quavering hoots and "kee-wik!" shrieks, given at night. Somewhat similar to Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, but smaller and grayer, with dark rather than yellow-orange eyes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Strix mauritanica
- Authority
- (Witherby, 1905)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Strix
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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.
Pearly-bellied Seedeater
Sporophila pileata
Very small finchlike bird with a short bill. Inhabits savannas and grasslands, where it often joins flocks of other seedeater species. Males are mostly gray-brown with a hint of cinnamon and have a black cap, wings and tail. Females are brown above and pale below, and are very similar to female Copper Seedeaters, but are grayer than that species.
Yellow-crested Tanager
Loriotus rufiventer
Medium-sized tanager of humid forest canopy. Males are black with a yellow crest, throat, and belly; the yellow belly is easily seen from below and distinguishes it from the similar Flame-crested Tanager. Females are yellowish brown. Individuals and pairs often join mixed-species flocks with other tanagers.
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