Madagascar Owl
Asio madagascariensis
Fairly large, brown owl with long ear tufts. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is found locally in all forest types, and sometimes in scrub and plantations. Usually roosts high in a tree, often in an introduced pine tree. Call is a series of nasal barks, similar to White-browed Owl but less quick and emphatic. Similar in size to Marsh Owl, but has prominent ear tufts and a pale chest with fine streaks. Much larger than Malagasy and Torotoroka Scops-Owls.
识别特征
The Madagascar owl is similar in appearance to the Holarctic long-eared owl in that it sits tall and at rest shows prominent ear tufts. The plumage is mainly brown with darker streaks and bars. It has distinctive bright orange eyes. The adults are brown above, and mottled with buff, especially across the mantle. The face is plain dark buff, with darker brown feathers around the eyes, on the edge of the facial disc, and on the ear tufts. The underparts are light brown with darker brown streaks which fade away towards the vent. The juvenile is covered in white down contrasting with a black facial disk and dark brown wings. It ranges from 40–50 cm (16–20 in) in length, making it the largest of the country's owls; females are larger than males.<p>Its call is usually a series of barks, varying in pitch and volume, but sometimes it will utter a series of more hoot-like notes, described by some as ulooh.
分类信息
- 学名
- Asio madagascariensis
- 命名信息
- (Smith, A, 1834)
- 目
- Strigiformes
- 科
- Strigidae
- 属
- Asio
分布与栖息地
The Madagascar owl is endemic to Madagascar, where it is widespread in the west and centre of the island. It is generally found at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft), though it occasionally ranges as high as 1,800 m (5,900 ft). It inhabits a variety of woodland habitats, mainly in the drier western forests, although it appears quite adaptable, and also occurs in degraded habitats, even on the central plateau where the forest cover has been fragmented.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Like most owls, the Madagascar owl is nocturnal, roosting by day in dense foliage. It feeds mainly on small mammals, hunting either in the forest or in open areas nearby. Pellets collected from a roost site in southeastern Madagascar were examined and contained the remains of insects, frogs (Boophis), geckoes (Uroplatus), birds (broad-billed roller and Malagasy bulbul), rodents, including tufted-tailed rats (Eliurus spp.) and black rat (Rattus rattus), Commerson's leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros commersoni), and mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.).<p>Little is known about its breeding biology. It is thought to lay its eggs in stick nests created by other animals, like the closely related long-eared owl.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
其他鸟类
Blue-faced Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
Long-tailed gray cuckoo with a pale blue eye-ring and ivory-colored bill. Note the broad white tips to the undertail feathers. Clambers about in trees and thickets, either singly or in pairs. Inhabits lowland and hill areas, where it favors thorny scrub and second growth.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Saucerottia saucerottei
Fairly small dark hummingbird, green overall with dark blue tail. Straight, medium-length bill. Sexes similar. Usually seen feeding singly in flowers along forest edge, shrubby second growth, and gardens. Separated from Emeralds by longer bill, blue-and-white vent, bronze patch on rump, and less deeply forked tail.
Black-spotted Barbet
Capito niger
Medium-sized sluggish bird of rainforest canopy. From below note size and sharply demarcated red throat on both sexes. Also occurs in secondary forests and overgrown plantations, sometimes in urban areas. Often seen in pairs at fruiting trees or with mixed-species flocks. Forages slowly and deliberately, feeding on fruit and insects. Often-heard call is a low-pitched, doubled hoot, repeated in series.
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