Disambig: the name "Papuan Boobook" is also used as an alternative name for Papuan Owl (Uroglaux dimorpha)
Alternative names: Jungle Hawk-Owl; Jungle Boobook
- Ninox theomacha
Identification
20–28 cm. 7.8-11 inches.
- A fairly plain small hawk owl
- An evenly black brown facial disc
- paler eyebrows
- indistinct pale rictal bristles
- Unmarked dark brown upperparts, unmarked or with a few scapular spots
- Strong rufous brown underparts
- Yellow Iris
- Grey beak
- Sexes similar female slightly larger
- Juvenile dark brown
Similar Species
- Lacks white throat of West Solomons Owl and dark, plain underparts
Distribution
Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Dickinson calls Uroglaux dimorpha Papuan Boobook.
Subspecies
There are 4 subspecies [1]
- N. t. hoedtii Duller than nominate, head is browner
- West Papuan Islands (Waigeo and Misool)
- N. t. theomacha
- New Guinea.
- N. t. goldii Larger than nominate with white on belly
- D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago (Goodenough, Fergusson, Normanby).
- N. t. rosseliana More white on belly than N.t. goldii
- Louisiade Archipelago (Tagula, Rossel).
Habitat
Lowland forests, montane forests, submontane forests and forest edge up to about 2500 m. In open country, gardens and copses.
Behaviour
Monogamous. Solitary or in pairs. Territorial. Rests under thick canopy during the day.
Diet
Mainly large insects. Hunts from perch in short flights catching insects on the wing.
Breeding
Usually lays 2 eggs in a nest in a tree hollow in August. Fledglings observed during October. Eggs seen in December in central New Guinea.
Vocalisation
Disyllabic “boo-boo”, both notes the same, slightly downwards pitch, repeated at 3–4 second intervals, heard through most of the night. Increased calling just before breeding.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Papuan Boobook. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Papuan_Boobook
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
