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About Spotted Wood Owl (Click-Readmore)


SPOTTED WOOD OWL

Scientific name: Strix seloputo
Higher classification: Wood owls
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Owls
Rank: Species
Size: Length 44-48cm.
Conservation status: Least Concern (Population stable)

Description:
The Spotted Wood Owl is large earless owl with an orange-buff facial disk with dark brown eyes. The bill is greyish to green-black .The plumage on the head is chocolate brown and the feathers have golden bases and white spots, with black edges, becoming bar-shaped on the nape. The upper parts are red-brown and are spotted heavily with white spots with black edges. The mantle, back and upper tail coverts are pale brown with black-edged white bars and spots.

Distribution:
The Spotted Wood Owl is resident throughout South East Asia from Southern Myanmar to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitat:
Partially cleared forest, evergreen secondary forest, forest edges, plantations and parks in human settlements. Also inhabits unpopulated remote regions such as swamp forest and mangroves near the coast.

Habits:
The Spotted Wood Owl is a nocturnal bird, becoming active at dusk. They can be very vocal at this time and also when returning at dawn.

Diet:
The Spotted Wood Owl feeds mainly on small rodents, small birds and large insects.

Breeding:
The breeding season typically runs from January to August. Breeding occurs in tree holes or in open branches, often high up in a tall tree.