Abyssinian Owl

Asio abyssinicus

A medium-sized owl with prominent ear tufts. The orange eyes are set in a brown facial disc. The breast is heavily streaked, and the belly barred. Found very locally in montane habitats including forest, heath, and sometimes open country. Similar to Spotted Eagle-Owl, but slightly smaller, slimmer, and browner, with longer ear tufts. Somewhat like Grayish Eagle-Owl, but with orange eyes. The call is a long, deep hoot.

Identification

The Abyssinian owl has dark brown eyes, a black bill and gray eyebrows. It is similar in appearance to the long-eared owl, Asio otus, but their ranges do not overlap, and the Abyssinian owl is darker. It has prominent dark brown, white-edged ear-tufts that are slightly centrally located on the head.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Asio abyssinicus
Authority
(Guérin-Méneville, 1843)
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Asio

Range and habitat

The Abyssinian owl prefers open grasslands or moorlands with oak or cedar forests, and it is found in mountain valleys and gorges at elevations of up to 3,900 m (12,800 ft) a.s.l. It lives in the Albertine Rift montane forests, Ethiopia and northern Kenya. This species is classified as least concern by IUCN due to its very large range. However, the species is described as "rare to scarce" when seeking to identify one.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Cook's Swift

Cook's Swift

Apus cooki

Large dark swift with long sickle-shaped wings and a forked tail, which is often kept closed in a needle-tipped point while in flight. Black overall with an ashy gray throat and a thin white rump. Distinguished from needletails by proportionally longer wings, longer and more slender body, and much longer tail. Closely related Pacific Swift has a broader and brighter rump patch and a whiter throat. Faint greenish gloss on the back is diagnostic but difficult to see. Like other "fork-tailed swifts", usually seen in flight over hills, forests, and open areas. Gives high thin notes as well as a grating trills. Breeds in limestone caves.

Flightless Steamer-Duck

Flightless Steamer-Duck

Tachyeres pteneres

A large heavily built duck that is uncommon to fairly common along rocky seacoasts; not found on lakes, unlike Flying Steamer-Duck. Both sexes are steely blue-gray overall, brighter than Flying Steamer-Duck, with a stouter and deeper-based bill. The bill of both male and female is bright orange in the southern parts of its range, but is orange with a greenish distal patch around Chiloé Island (likely a different species). The bill of juvenile birds is duller grayish to dull yellowish; attains adult color by winter.

Orange Weaver

Orange Weaver

Ploceus aurantius

A medium-sized weaver with a long, relatively slim bill. Male is mostly bright yellow with an orange throat and black lores. The female is much duller, greenish-yellow with a white belly. The eye color of both sexes can be whitish or red, and the bill can be mostly pinkish or black. A colonial nester that is found around wetlands, including lakes, rivers, and swamps. Similar to Holub’s Golden-Weaver, but smaller and slimmer-billed. Female can be confused with several other female and non-breeding male weavers, but is usually found in association with the more distinctive males. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chet” notes and a sizzling “radio static” song. 

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.

Abyssinian Owl | BirdLens