Sichuan Wood Owl (Strix davidi)

Sichuan Wood Owl

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Members of the genus Strix are the wood owls. They are medium to large owls, having a large, rounded head and no ear-tufts. The comparatively large eyes range from yellow through to dark brown. Colouring is generally designed fro camouflage in woodland, and a number of the member of this genus have colour phases. There are 20 species scattered practically throughout the globe with the exception of Australasia, the South Pacific and Madagascar, where the genus Ninox takes its place. There being no clear generic differences between Strix and Ciccaba genera, and DNA evidence suggesting very close relationships, many authorities now merge the latter into the former.

Physical charateristics

Upperparts dark brown, Mottled blackish brown, white and grey. Coverts with white tips, flight featehrs and tail barred brown and dusky. Breast and belly streaked brown-black. Iris brown and bill pale yellow. The lookalike Ural owl (of which it is sometimes considered a subspecies) is much lighter in appearance and darker markings.

Listen to the sound of Sichuan Wood Owl

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/STRIGIFORMES/Strigidae/sounds/Sichuan Wood Owl.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

wingspan min.:	0	cm	wingspan max.:	0	cm
size min.:	56	cm	size max.:	60	cm
incubation min.:	0	days	incubation max.:	0	days
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broods:	0		eggs min.:	0
			eggs max.:	0

Range

Eurasia : Central China

Habitat

The main habitat of Sichuan wood owl in Gansu was found in the conifer and conifer-deciduous mixing forest from 2 900 m to 3 300 m

Reproduction

No data, except a confirmed breeding in a nest box: “In 2005, the first successful breeding was observed in one of the boxes, this offered good opportunity to study the breeding biology of this endemic species. In 2006 we found two fledglings near a step rock, where they may have hatched in one of the deep cavities, propably the usual breeding place of this big owl”.

Feeding habits

No data

Conservation

Rare restricted range species, in areas of vast dforestation.
The Sichuan wood owl is the only endemic owl in China, it is rare in the conifer forest at Lianhuashan

Migration

Resident

Distribution map

Sichuan Wood Owl distribution range map

Planet of Birds