Tanimbar Boobook

Ninox forbesi

A distinctive chestnut-colored owl from the Tanimbar Islands. Bright reddish-brown with scattered white markings on wings, barred underparts, and piercing yellow eyes. Juvenile lacks barring underneath. Pairs inhabit upper levels of forests in lowlands and hills. Unique within its limited range, where the only other two owl species are in the barn-owl family. Song is a couplet of “oo-ook” or croakier “broo-broo” phrases. Also gives frog-like “brrrr” calls.

Identification

The Tanimbar boobook, or Tanimbar hawk-owl (Ninox forbesi), is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Moluccan boobook.

Taxonomy

Genus: Ninox; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.

Scientific name
Ninox forbesi
Authority
Sclater, PL, 1883
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

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