Bay owl

Last updated

Bay owl
BayOwlGould.jpg
Oriental bay owl
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Genus: Phodilus
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I, 1830
Species
Synonyms
  • Photodilus

The bay owls (Phodilus) are a genus of Old World barn-owls. The defining characteristics of bay owls are their smaller bodies, in comparison to other barn owls, and their U- or V-shaped faces. [1] These owls can be found in South to Southeast Asia within forest and grassland ecosystems. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Phodilus was erected by the French zoologist Boho Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1830. [2] Some taxonomists place two species in the genus, while others include three. [3] The name is from the Ancient Greek phōs for "light" or "daylight" and deilos for "timid" or "cowardly". [4] Most classification schemes recognize three extant species in this genus: [5]

ImageScientific NameCommon nameDistribution
Oriental bay owl, Phodilus badius - Khao Yai National Park.jpg Phodilus badius Oriental bay owl Philippines, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei
Ceylon Bay Owl Abhilash Arjunan.jpg Phodilus assimilis Sri Lanka bay owl Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats in Kerala, southwestern India

The Itombwe owl (T. prigoginei) was formerly classified in this genus as the Congo bay owl, but morphological evidence suggests that it is a member of the genus Tyto . [6] [7]

Description

Although bay owls are typically smaller, they bear resemblances to other barn owls. [1] Other characteristics of the bay owl are groupings of feathers that resemble ears, and a divided face disk. [1] Bay owls have also been attributed with U-or V-shaped faces. [1] [3] Their wings are rounded and their tail is chestnut-colored, with a few narrow, dark bars. [8]  Their tarsi, or leg/foot bones, are relatively short and fully feathered to the joint. [3] Their toes are yellowish-brown with pale claws. [3] Their throat has a creamy color and their underparts are often a pale yellowish-brown, with speckles of blackish-brown coloring. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The bay owl can be found in regions from India to Southeast Asia and Indonesia. [1] It is uncertain where the ancestors of these avians lived as the phylogeny of all species of bay owls has not been analyzed. [9] These owls can be found in both forests and grasslands, but are fairly scattered in their distribution. [9] However, their primary habitat is within dense evergreen forests, where the owls may roost during the day in the opening of tree trunks or branches sheltered by palm tree leaves. [1] They are often found roosting no more than 2 meters off the ground. [1] They are most vulnerable in this state and not very alert. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl</span> Birds from the order Strigiformes

Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes, which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Exceptions include the diurnal northern hawk-owl and the gregarious burrowing owl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morepork</span> Species of owl

The morepork, also known by numerous other onomatopoeic names, is a smallish, brown owl species found in New Zealand, and to the northwest, on Norfolk Island, an Australian territory. It was also, formerly, found on Lord Howe Island. Three subspecies of the morepork are recognised, one of which is extinct and another that exists only as a hybrid population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barn-owl</span> Family of birds

Barn-owls are one of the two families of owls, the other being the true owls or typical owls, Strigidae. They are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons. They also differ from the Strigidae in structural details relating in particular to the sternum and feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barn owl</span> Common cosmopolitan owl species

The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, some islands of Indonesia, and some Pacific Islands. It is also known as the common barn owl, to distinguish it from the other species in its family, Tytonidae, which forms one of the two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical owls (Strigidae).

<i>Tyto</i> Genus of birds

Tyto is a genus of birds consisting of true barn owls, grass owls and masked owls that collectively make up all the species within the subfamily Tytoninae of the barn owl family, Tytonidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African scops owl</span> Species of owl

The African scops owl is a small owl which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Solomons owl</span> Species of owl

The WestSolomons owl, also referred to as the West Solomons boobook, is a small to medium-sized owl, measuring 23–31 cm (9.1–12.2 in) in length. Its upperparts are rusty brown, sometimes spotted or barred with white, its chest is buffy white, sometimes spotted or barred with brown, and its creamy belly is unmarked. It has a grayish-brown facial disc, edged by narrow white eyebrows and a band of white across the throat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser's eagle-owl</span> Species of owl

Fraser's eagle-owl is a species of African owl in the family Strigidae. It is named after the British zoologist Louis Fraser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central American pygmy owl</span> Species of owl

The Central American pygmy owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bearded screech owl</span> Species of owl

The bearded screech owl is a small "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermiculated fishing owl</span> Species of owl

The vermiculated fishing owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found within riverine forest in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria. This species was first described by British zoologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1875 and named in honour of French naturalist Eugène Louis Bouvier.

The Itombwe owl is a species of owl in the barn owl family, Tytonidae. It is restricted to a small area in the Albertine Rift montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African grass owl</span> Species of owl

The African grass owl is a species of owl in the barn owl family, Tytonidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern grass owl</span> Species of owl

The eastern grass owl, also known as Chinese grass owl or Australasian grass owl, is a species of owl in the family Tytonidae. They feed predominantly on small rodents.

The chocolate boobook is a bird species in the true owl family, Strigidae. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown boobook. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found on all major islands except Palawan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andaman masked owl</span> Species of owl

The Andaman masked owl is a barn owl endemic to the southern Andaman Islands archipelago of India, in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. Regarded by some authors as a subspecies of the common barn owl, it is recognized by others as a species in its own right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka bay owl</span> Species of owl

The Sri Lanka bay owl is a species of bay owl in the family Tytonidae. It is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats in Kerala, South Western India. It was considered a subspecies of the Oriental bay owl but is now treated as a full species due to its distinctive call, plumage and disjunct distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermiculated screech owl</span> Species of owl

The vermiculated screech owl, is a subspecies, or possibly separate species, of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern barn owl</span> Species of owl

The eastern barn owl is usually considered a subspecies group and together with the American barn owl group, the western barn owl group, and sometimes the Andaman masked owl make up the barn owl. The cosmopolitan barn owl is recognized by most taxonomic authorities. A few separate them into distinct species, as is done here. The eastern barn owl is native to southeastern Asia and Australasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American barn owl</span> Species of owl

The American barn owl is usually considered a subspecies group and together with the western barn owl group, the eastern barn owl group, and sometimes the Andaman masked owl, make up the barn owl, cosmopolitan in range. The barn owl is recognized by most taxonomic authorities. A few separate them into distinct species, as is done here. The American barn owl is native to North and South America, and has been introduced to Hawaii.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Bay Owl". Owl Rescue. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  2. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Isidore (1830). "Remarques sur les charactères et la classification des oiseaux de proie nocturnes, et description d'un genre nouveau sous la nom de Phodilus". Annales des sciences naturelles (in French). 21: 194–203 [199].
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 König, Claus & Weick, Friedhelm (2008). Owls of the World. London, UK: A & C Black. pp. 209, 230–233. ISBN   978-0-7136-6548-2.
  4. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p.  303. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Owls". World Bird List Version 7.3. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  6. König, Claus (2015). Owls of the world. Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-7136-6548-2. OCLC   929818095.
  7. "Owls – IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  8. Lewis, Deane. "Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius) - Information, Pictures, Sounds". The Owl Pages. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  9. 1 2 Uva, Vera; Päckert, Martin; Cibois, Alice; Fumagalli, Luca; Roulin, Alexandre (2018-08-01). "Comprehensive molecular phylogeny of barn owls and relatives (Family: Tytonidae), and their six major Pleistocene radiations". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 125: 127–137. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.013 . ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   29535030.

Further reading