Owls of the World (Helm Identification Guides - Second Edition)

The definitive book on owls. Owls are enduringly popular birds, but due to their nocturnal habits most species are difficult to see well. The plumages of many species are cryptic and difficult to separate by plumage alone. This problem is compounded by the different morphs that many adopt. This book fully describes every known species and subspecies of owl, as well as presenting the latest evidence on owl taxonomy, based on DNA work and vocalisations. Because voice is vital in owl identification, much emphasis is placed on it in the book and sonograms are provided for many species. A CD of owl vocalisations accompanies the book. CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 14 LAYOUT OF THE BOOK......Page 16 MORPHOLOGY AND ANATOMY......Page 19 TOPOGRAPHY......Page 23 HUNTING......Page 25 BEHAVIOUR......Page 27 BREEDING......Page 30 VOCALISATION......Page 33 SYSTEMATICS AND TAXONOMY......Page 35 CONSERVATION......Page 40 MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF THE OWLS (STRIGIFORMES)......Page 43 COLOUR PLATES......Page 65 Common Barn Owl: Tyto alba......Page 210 American Barn Owl: Tyto furcata......Page 212 Curaçao Barn Owl: Tyto bargei......Page 213 Ashy-faced Barn Owl: Tyto glaucops......Page 214 Lesser Antilles Barn Owl: Tyto insularis......Page 215 Cape Verde Barn Owl: Tyto detorta......Page 216 São Tomé Barn Owl: Tyto thomensis......Page 217 Madagascar Red Owl: Tyto soumagnei......Page 218 Australian Barn Owl: Tyto delicatula......Page 219 Boang Barn Owl: Tyto crassirostris......Page 220 Taliabu Masked Owl: Tyto nigrobrunnea......Page 221 Minahassa Masked Owl: Tyto inexspectata......Page 222 Manus Masked Owl: Tyto manusi......Page 223 Sulawesi Masked Owl: Tyto rosenbergii......Page 224 Australian Masked Owl: Tyto novaehollandiae......Page 225 Tasmanian Masked Owl: Tyto castanops......Page 226 African Grass Owl: Tyto capensis......Page 227 Eastern Grass Owl: Tyto longimembris......Page 228 Greater Sooty Owl: Tyto tenebricosa......Page 229 Itombwe Owl: Tyto prigoginei......Page 230 Oriental Bay Owl: Phodilus badius......Page 231 Sri Lanka Bay Owl: Phodilus assimilis......Page 233 White-fronted Scops Owl: Otus sagittatus......Page 234 Reddish Scops Owl: Otus rufescens......Page 235 Serendib Scops Owl: Otus thilohoffmanni......Page 236 Cinnamon Scops Owl: Otus icterorhynchus......Page 237 Andaman Scops Owl: Otus balli......Page 238 Flores Scops Owl: Otus alfredi......Page 239 Stresemann’s Scops Owl: Otus stresemanni......Page 240 Mountain Scops Owl: Otus spilocephalus......Page 241 Javan Scops Owl: Otus angelinae......Page 243 Mindanao Scops Owl: Otus mirus......Page 244 Luzon Scops Owl: Otus longicornis......Page 245 Mindoro Scops Owl: Otus mindorensis......Page 246 Malagasy Scops Owl: Otus rutilus......Page 247 Torotoroka Scops Owl: Otus madagascariensis......Page 248 Mayotte Scops Owl: Otus mayottensis......Page 249 Anjouan Scops Owl: Otus capnodes......Page 250 Mohéli Scops Owl: Otus moheliensis......Page 251 Pemba Scops Owl: Otus pembaensis......Page 252 Common Scops Owl: Otus scops......Page 253 Pallid Scops Owl: Otus brucei......Page 254 Socotra Scops Owl: Otus socotranus......Page 256 African Scops Owl: Otus senegalensis......Page 257 Oriental Scops Owl: Otus sunia......Page 258 Elegant Scops Owl: Otus elegans......Page 260 Moluccan Scops Owl: Otus magicus......Page 261 Wetar Scops Owl: Otus tempestatis......Page 262 Sula Scops Owl: Otus sulaensis......Page 263 Kalidupa Scops Owl: Otus kalidupae......Page 264 Sulawesi Scops Owl: Otus manadensis......Page 265 Siau Scops Owl: Otus siaoensis......Page 266 Sangihe Scops Owl: Otus collari......Page 267 Mantanani Scops Owl: Otus mantananensis......Page 268 Nicobar Scops Owl: Otus alius......Page 269 Simeulue Scops Owl: Otus umbra......Page 270 Enggano Scops Owl: Otus enganensis......Page 271 Rajah Scops Owl: Otus brookii......Page 272 Sunda Scops Owl: Otus lempiji......Page 274 Singapore Scops Owl: Otus cnephaeus......Page 275 Collared Scops Owl: Otus lettia......Page 276 Indian Scops Owl: Otus bakkamoena......Page 277 Japanese Scops Owl: Otus semitorques......Page 278 Philippine Scops Owl: Otus megalotis......Page 279 Wallace’s Scops Owl: Otus silvicola......Page 280 Flammulated Owl: Psiloscops flammeolus......Page 281 MEGASCOPS......Page 282 Western Screech Owl: Megascops kennicottii......Page 283 Eastern Screech Owl: Megascops asio......Page 284 Pacific Screech Owl: Megascops cooperi......Page 286 Whiskered Screech Owl: Megascops trichopsis......Page 287 Bearded Screech Owl: Megascops barbarus......Page 288 Balsas Screech Owl: Megascops seductus......Page 289 Tropical Screech Owl: Megascops choliba......Page 290 Maria Koepcke’s Screech Owl: Megascops koepckeae......Page 292 Peruvian Screech Owl: Megascops roboratus......Page 293 Tumbes Screech Owl: Megascops pacificus......Page 294 Montane Forest Screech Owl: Megascops hoyi......Page 295 Rufescent Screech Owl: Megascops ingens......Page 297 Colombian Screech Owl: Megascops colombianus......Page 298 Cinnamon Screech Owl: Megascops petersoni......Page 299 Cloud-forest Screech Owl: Megascops marshalli......Page 300 Northern Tawny-bellied Screech Owl: Megascops watsonii......Page 301 Southern Tawny-bellied Screech Owl: Megascops usta......Page 302 Black-capped Screech Owl: Megascops atricapillus......Page 303 Santa Catarina Screech Owl: Megascops sanctaecatarinae......Page 305 Vermiculated Screech Owl: Megascops vermiculatus......Page 306 Foothill Screech Owl: Megascops roraimae......Page 307 Guatemalan Screech Owl: Megascops guatemalae......Page 308 Rio Napo Screech Owl: Megascops napensis......Page 310 Puerto Rican Screech Owl: Megascops nudipes......Page 311 White-throated Screech Owl: Megascops albogularis......Page 312 Palau Scops Owl: Pyrroglaux podarginus......Page 313 Cuban Bare-legged Owl: Gymnoglaux lawrencii......Page 314 Northern White-faced Scops Owl: Ptilopsis leucotis......Page 315 Southern White-faced Scops Owl: Ptilopsis granti......Page 316 BUBO......Page 318 Snowy Owl: Bubo scandiacus......Page 319 Great Horned Owl: Bubo virginianus......Page 320 Magellan Horned Owl: Bubo magellanicus......Page 322 Eurasian Eagle Owl: Bubo bubo......Page 324 Pharaoh Eagle Owl: Bubo ascalaphus......Page 326 Rock Eagle Owl: Bubo bengalensis......Page 328 Cape Eagle Owl: Bubo capensis......Page 329 Spotted Eagle Owl: Bubo africanus......Page 330 Vermiculated Eagle Owl: Bubo cinerascens......Page 332 Fraser’s Eagle Owl: Bubo poensis......Page 333 Usambara Eagle Owl: Bubo vosseleri......Page 334 Verreaux’s Eagle Owl: Bubo lacteus......Page 335 Barred Eagle Owl: Bubo sumatranus......Page 337 Forest Eagle Owl: Bubo nipalensis......Page 338 Dusky Eagle Owl: Bubo coromandus......Page 340 Akun Eagle Owl: Bubo leucostictus......Page 341 Philippine Eagle Owl: Bubo philippensis......Page 342 Blakiston’s Eagle Owl: Bubo blakistoni......Page 343 Brown Fish Owl: Bubo zeylonensis......Page 344 Buffy Fish Owl: Bubo ketupu......Page 345 Tawny Fish Owl: Bubo flavipes......Page 347 Pel’s Fishing Owl: Bubo peli......Page 348 Rufous Fishing Owl: Bubo ussheri......Page 349 Vermiculated Fishing Owl: Bubo bouvieri......Page 350 Spectacled Owl: Pulsatrix perspicillata......Page 351 Short-browed Owl: Pulsatrix pulsatrix......Page 352 Tawny-browed Owl: Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana......Page 353 Band-bellied Owl: Pulsatrix melanota......Page 354 Spotted Wood Owl: Strix seloputo......Page 355 Mottled Wood Owl: Strix ocellata......Page 356 Brown Wood Owl: Strix leptogrammica......Page 358 Nias Wood Owl: Strix niasensis......Page 359 Bartels’ Wood Owl: Strix bartelsi......Page 360 Mountain Wood Owl: Strix newarensis......Page 361 Tawny Owl: Strix aluco......Page 362 Himalayan Wood Owl: Strix nivicola......Page 364 Hume’s Owl: Strix butleri......Page 365 African Wood Owl: Strix woodfordii......Page 366 Mottled Owl: Strix virgata......Page 367 Mexican Wood Owl: Strix squamulata......Page 369 Rufous-legged Owl: Strix rufipes......Page 370 Chaco Owl: Strix chacoensis......Page 371 Rusty-barred Owl: Strix hylophila......Page 372 Rufous-banded Owl: Strix albitarsis......Page 374 Black-and-white Owl: Strix nigrolineata......Page 375 Black-banded Owl: Strix huhula......Page 376 Spotted Owl: Strix occidentalis......Page 377 Fulvous Owl: Strix fulvescens......Page 378 Barred Owl: Strix varia......Page 379 Sichuan Wood Owl: Strix davidi......Page 380 Ural Owl: Strix uralensis......Page 381 Great Grey Owl: Strix nebulosa......Page 383 Maned Owl: Jubula lettii......Page 385 Crested Owl: Lophostrix cristata......Page 386 SURNIA......Page 387 Northern Hawk Owl: Surnia ulula......Page 388 Eurasian Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium passerinum......Page 389 Pearl-spotted Owlet: Glaucidium perlatum......Page 392 Red-chested Owlet: Glaucidium tephronotum......Page 394 Collared Owlet: Glaucidium brodiei......Page 395 Northern Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium californicum......Page 396 Cape Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium hoskinsii......Page 397 Mountain Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium gnoma......Page 398 Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium nubicola......Page 399 Guatemalan Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium cobanense......Page 400 Costa Rican Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium costaricanum......Page 401 Cuban Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium siju......Page 402 Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium sanchezi......Page 403 Colima Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium palmarum......Page 404 Sick’s Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium sicki......Page 405 Pernambuco Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium minutissimum......Page 407 Amazonian Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium hardyi......Page 408 Subtropical Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium parkeri......Page 409 Andean Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium jardinii......Page 410 Yungas Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium bolivianum......Page 411 Peruvian Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium peruanum......Page 413 Austral Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium nanum......Page 415 Ferruginous Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium brasilianum......Page 416 Ridgway’s Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium ridgwayi......Page 419 Chaco Pygmy Owl: Glaucidium tucumanum......Page 420 Jungle Owlet: Taenioglaux radiata......Page 422 Chestnut-backed Owlet: Taenioglaux castanonota......Page 423 Asian Barred Owlet: Taenioglaux cuculoides......Page 424 Javan Owlet: Taenioglaux castanoptera......Page 425 Sjöstedt’s Owlet: Taenioglaux sjöstedti......Page 426 African Barred Owlet: Taenioglaux capense......Page 427 Chestnut Owlet: Taenioglaux castanea......Page 428 Etchécopar’s Owlet: Taenioglaux etchecopari......Page 429 Albertine Owlet: Taenioglaux albertina......Page 430 Long-whiskered Owlet: Xenoglaux loweryi......Page 431 Elf Owl: Micrathene whitneyi......Page 432 Burrowing Owl: Athene cunicularia......Page 433 Forest Owlet: Athene blewitti......Page 435 Little Owl: Athene noctua......Page 436 Lilith Owlet: Athene lilith......Page 439 Ethiopian Little Owl: Athene spilogastra......Page 440 Spotted Owlet: Athene brama......Page 441 Tengmalm’s Owl: Aegolius funereus......Page 442 Northern Saw-whet Owl: Aegolius acadicus......Page 445 Unspotted Saw-whet Owl Aegolius ridgwayi......Page 447 Buff-fronted Owl: Aegolius harrisii......Page 448 Rufous Owl: Ninox rufa......Page 449 Powerful Owl: Ninox strenua......Page 451 Barking Owl: Ninox connivens......Page 452 Sumba Boobook: Ninox rudolfi......Page 453 Little Sumba Hawk Owl: Ninox sumbaensis......Page 454 Togian Hawk Owl: Ninox burhani......Page 455 Morepork: Ninox novaeseelandiae......Page 456 Southern Boobook: Ninox boobook......Page 458 Tasmanian Boobook: Ninox leucopsis......Page 460 Brown Hawk Owl: Ninox scutulata......Page 461 Andaman Hawk Owl: Ninox affinis......Page 463 Madagascar Hawk Owl: Ninox superciliaris......Page 464 Philippine Hawk Owl: Ninox philippensis......Page 465 Mindoro Hawk Owl: Ninox mindorensis......Page 466 Solomon Hawk Owl: Ninox jacquinoti......Page 467 Jungle Hawk Owl: Ninox theomacha......Page 468 Speckled Hawk Owl: Ninox punctulata......Page 469 New Britain Hawk Owl: Ninox odiosa......Page 470 Moluccan Hawk Owl: Ninox squamipila......Page 471 Christmas Hawk Owl: Ninox natalis......Page 472 Manus Hawk Owl: Ninox meeki......Page 473 Bismarck Hawk Owl: Ninox variegata......Page 474 Laughing Owl: Sceloglaux albifacies......Page 475 NESASIO......Page 476 Jamaican Owl: Pseudoscops grammicus......Page 477 Stygian Owl: Asio stygius......Page 478 Long-eared Owl: Asio otus......Page 480 Abyssinian Long-eared Owl: Asio abyssinicus......Page 482 Striped Owl: Asio clamator......Page 483 Short-eared Owl: Asio flammeus......Page 485 Galápagos Short-eared Owl: Asio galapagoensis......Page 487 Marsh Owl: Asio capensis......Page 488 RECENTLY DISCOVERED OWLS......Page 490 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 491 B......Page 520 C......Page 521 F......Page 522 J......Page 523 M......Page 524 N......Page 525 P......Page 526 S......Page 527 T......Page 528 Z......Page 529 Owls Are Enduringly Popular Birds, But Due To Their Nocturnal Habits Most Species Are Difficult To See Well. The Plumages Of Many Species Are Cryptic And Difficult To Separate By Plumage Alone. This Problem Is Compounded By The Different Morphs That Many Adopt. This Book Fully Describes Every Known Species And Subspecies Of Owl, As Well As Presenting The Latest Evidence On Owl Taxonomy, Based On Dna Work And Vocalisations. Because Voice Is Vital In Owl Identification, Much Emphasis Is Placed On It In The Book And Sonograms Are Provided For Many Species. A Cd Of Owl Vocalisations Will Accompany The Book. The definitive book on owls. Fully describes and illustrates every known species and subspecies of owl, as well as presenting the latest evidence on owl taxonomy, based on DNA work and vocalisations. Includes maps of every species and sonograms.