- Strix butleri
Identification
29-33 cm. Earless owl, stocky body and round head, pale, and has yellow eyes.
Distribution
Syria, Israel, northeast Egypt and Arabia.
Taxonomy
This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.
Recent search suggests that the recently described Omani Owl (Strix omanensis) is in fact synonym to the type specimen of Strix butleri (and has to be renamed accordingly) and that all owls previously thought to be Hume's Owl are in fact an undescribed species (Desert Owl, Strix hadorami). The Opus awaits further clarification in this matter.
Habitat
Palm groves, desert, semi-desert and rocky ravines.
Behaviour
Breeding
It nests in crevices and holes in cliffs.
Diet
Its diet includes voles, mice and large insects.
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