Lesser Masked Owl - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Rob Hutchinson
Yamdena,Tanimbar Island, Indonesia, October 2007

Alternative names: Moluccan Masked Owl; Tanimbar Owl

Tyto sororcula

Includes: Seram Masked Owl, Buru Masked Owl

Identification

29-31cm. A small Masked Owl.

• Brownish upperparts mottled white
• Whitish underparts with dark spotting on sides
• Pale legs covered only with flesh-coloured bristles
• cayelii slightly larger, more tawny buff over all, more blackish upperparts
• almae with yellow-ochre underparts, more dusky on middle and lower back

Females larger as males. Juveniles undescribed.

Distribution

Found on Tanimbar, Buru and Seram (Indonesia).
A poorly known restricted-range species.

Taxonomy

Three subspecies recognized:

• T. s. sororcula on Tanimbar Island
• T. s. cayelii: "Buru Masked Owl". Buru Island (Southern Moluccas)
• T. s. almae: "Seram Masked Owl". Seram Island (Southern Moluccas)

almae is recognized as full species by Clements ("Seram Masked Owl"), however the other world lists don't yet follow this treatment and the Opus awaits further clarification. Subspecies cayelii may likewise be elevated as "Buru Masked Owl". Reference [3] suggests the differences between the forms are minor.

Habitat

Primary and mature secondary forest.

Behaviour

No information about diet or breeding.
Presumably a resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1999. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334252
3. Eaton, J.A.. van Balen, B. Brickle, N.W., B Rheindk F.E. (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago, Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. Second Edition

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Masked Owl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Masked_Owl

External Links

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