Moluccan Hawk-Owl (Ninox squamipila)

Moluccan Hawk-Owl

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Members of the genus Ninox are hawk owls, ranging from small to large, with rounded heads without ear-tufts. They have long, pointed wings and a long tail. The nostrils are forward facing on an enlarged cere in an indistinct facial disk. There are at least 20 species in this genus, from Siberia through much of the Pacific rim, South-east Asia and Australasia. Relationships unclear. Proposed treatment as member of species-group that includes N. boobook, N. novaeseelandiae, N. theomacha, N. meeki, N. variegata and perhaps other boobooks in Australasian Region, or possibly with just last 3 of above-named species; more research needed. Formerly included N. natalis as race, but latter now afforded full species status based on plumage details and molecular evidence. Races are morphologically quite distinct, and there is some preliminary evidence that vocalizations also differ; more than one species may be involved. Four subspecies recognized

Physical charateristics

Plain brown head and mantle. Somewhat spotted and barred upperparts and whitish underparts. Chest rufousd. Pale brows, a slight dusky facial mask and yellow eyes.

Listen to the sound of Moluccan Hawk-Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Moluccan Hawk-Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

wingspan min.:	0	cm	wingspan max.:	0	cm
size min.:	25	cm	size max.:	39	cm
incubation min.:	0	days	incubation max.:	0	days
fledging min.:	0	days	fledging max.:	0	days
broods:	0		eggs min.:	0
			eggs max.:	0

Range

Australasia : Buru Islands, Seram Is.

Habitat

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Reproduction

No data

Feeding habits

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland priamry and tall secondary forests. Found up to 1750m.

Conservation

Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Migration

Resident

Distribution map

Moluccan Hawk-Owl distribution range map

Planet of Birds