Sokoke Scops-Owl
Otus ireneae
A small owl with a tiny range along the East African coast. Note the yellow eyes, the small ear tufts, and the fine spotting below. The coloration varies from gray to dark brown to bright rufous. Found very locally in coastal forest. Often found roosting in pairs or family groups in the forest's lower levels. Similar in appearance to African Scops-Owl, but found in different habitats, and separated by the spotted rather than striped underparts. The call is a series of tooting notes, reminiscent of a tinkerbird or pygmy-owl.
识别特征
Sokoke scops owl is a fairly plain scops owl with small spotted markings on the underside. They are found in a number of color morphs ranging from grey through brown to an orange-rufous. Their call consists of a repetitive "too-too-too-too-too" reminiscent of the calls of tinkerbirds. Males have a higher-pitched, louder and clearer call compared to females, which have a softer, muffled, low-pitched call. They are territorial and pairs may duet in response to intruding conspecifics. The calling intensity of spontaneously calling owls varies with the time of night and phase of the moon.
分类信息
Genus: Otus; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.
- 学名
- Otus ireneae
- 命名信息
- Ripley, 1966
- 目
- Strigiformes
- 科
- Strigidae
- 属
- Otus
分布与栖息地
Sokoke scops owl have a highly restricted range in coastal Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania. It was first discovered in 1965 in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve in coastal Kenya. Two other isolated populations have been subsequently discovered in the Dakatcha woodlands in Kenya and in the Manga and Kwamgumi forest reserves in the lowlands of the East Usambara mountains, Tanzania. Its global range is not thought to exceed 500 km2. Other isolated populations of this species may still persist in unsurveyed patches of suitable habitat. Sokoke scops owl has very specific habitat requirements of undisturbed lowland forest. In the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, it only occurs in forest dominated by Brachylaena and Cynometra, despite the presence of other forest types. It is thought that holes in Brachylaena trees provide suitable nesting sites for the owls and their removal may be responsible for population declines.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Migration pattern: Resident species.
保护状况
Population trend: declining.
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Raso Skylark
Alauda razae
Found only on Raso Island of the Cape Verdes. Overall grayish-brown and moderately streaked including the breast. Note the large and heavy bill. Sometimes erects small crest. Belongs to the same genus as Eurasian Skylark, but is smaller with shorter wings and tail than Eurasian Skylark. Found along dry riverbeds on flat plains. Song is similar to that of Crested Lark. Call a short rattle, "Chureep."
Banded Kestrel
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Atypical kestrel that is marked more like a small hawk, with a gray back and a barred belly. Uncommon to rare Madagascar endemic that is found patchily across the island in and adjacent to forest. Absent from most of the east and center of the island. Sits motionless on prominent perches for long periods. Flights are short, low, and infrequent. Call is a quick rolling “tr-r-r-r.” Larger and chunkier than Madagascar Kestrel, gray rather than rufous, and with broad bars on the belly. Separated from sparrowhawks by big-headed kestrel shape and upright posture.
Freckled Duck
Stictonetta naevosa
Very finely-speckled dark-grayish duck with a dark eye and an obvious peaked crown. Beak is strongly curved like a ski-jump. Breeding males have a red base to their bill. Upper-wing is dark, while under-wing is paler gray. When perched, distinguish from Hardhead (which have a pale belly patch). Generally uncommon; found beside inland waterholes and ponds. More reliable inland, but can be common one year and absent the next from any given location.
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