Civetta nana africana

Civettina tozza e brunastra. Mostra barre sul petto e macchie sul ventre. Esiste una variazione geografica significativa, sebbene sottile. Il dorso può essere uniformemente castano o marrone e barrato, la parte posteriore del collo è barrata e la parte superiore della testa è macchiata o barrata. Trovata in una varietà di foreste, dalla foresta pluviale di pianura alla foresta montana, così come in boschetti e boschi fitti. Spesso attiva e vocale durante il giorno. Emette una serie di ululati guaiti, che sono di solito seguiti da note enfatiche, modulate e discendenti “ptrrrrr”. Simile alla Civettina perlata ma ha barre anziché macchie sulle parti superiori, e macchie e barre anziché striature sulle parti inferiori. Molto simile alla rara Civettina albertina, ma nell'area di sovrapposizione, ha macchie bianche anziché crema sulla parte superiore della testa, un dorso castano meno intensamente colorato e una striscia bianca anziché camoscio attraverso la spalla. Ricorda anche la Civettina dal petto rosso, ma è più grande, con un petto barrato, e manca di macchie bianche sulla coda.

Identificazione

The African barred owlet is a small owlet that shows some geographic variation (see Taxonomy). The nominate subspecies is greyish brown above with fine buff bars and a narrow white eyebrow. The scapulars and greater wing coverts have white outer webs with dark brown tips and form a white stripe across the shoulder and the folded wing. The brown chest is finely barred with buff and the breast and flanks are white with brown spots. The underwing coverts, legs and vent are white, while the flight feathers and tail are brown barred with rufous. The bill and cere are dull greenish yellow and the eyes, legs and feet are yellow. Length is about 17 cm (6.7 in) and wingspan is about 40 cm (16 in).<p>The call of the African barred owlet is a series of single pitched purring notes.

Tassonomia

There are currently three subspecies recognised but many authorities recognise each of these as a separate species. Others in the complex like G. capense etchecopari (or Etchecopar's barred owl) are of uncertain status. The subspecies are:

Nome scientifico

Glaucidium capense

Autorità

(Smith, A, 1834)

Ordine

Strigiformi

Famiglia

Strigidae

Genere

Glaucidio

Comportamento

The African barred owlet is partly diurnal. Calling occurs mainly at dusk and dawn but also through the night on calm and clear nights. It is frequently observed on open perches scanning for prey, even during the day. It roosts within cover, often in a natural cavity in a tree. If they are detected by other birds during the day they will often be subjected to mobbing. The African barred owlet feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, scorpions and caterpillars which are normally caught following a short flight from a perch.<p>Both sexes call to proclaim their territory, most frequently before breeding. The nest site is usually a tree cavity 3–6 m (9.8–19.7 ft) from the ground. Two or three eggs are laid from September to November. The young are fed by both parents but only in the dark, fledging after 30–33 days and becoming independent after 7–12 months.