and forest clearings. The prey type most often associated with Verreaux's eagle-owl are hedgehogs. Such beliefs pose some of the continent’s greatest conservation challenges, and conservationists must challenge them and gain community support if their work is to be successful. Insects are also hawked in flight. Africa is home to more than 30 species of owl including some that eat fish. It occupies moist woodland and arid savanna, provided there are trees with cavities for nesting. Females are normally heavier than males. Hunting & Food: Mainly feeds on insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, moths and crickets, but occasionally takes spiders, 2-3 white eggs are laid directly on the floor of the nest hole. Here are the African owls that we have at the sanctuary, click on an owl to learn more: © Screech Owl Wildlife Park. The African wood owl, or "ibengwana" in our local isiXhosa language, is about 33 cm (13 in) in height and weighs between 240 and 350 grams (8.5 - 12.3 oz). Underparts are similar in colour to the upperparts, but often paler, with dark streaks and fine vermiculations. Habitat: Savanna with scattered trees and thorny shrubs, semi-open woodland, park-like areas, gardens with some mature trees, The facial disc has fine vermiculations and a dark rim. São Tomé Scops Owl. Living owls are divided into two families: the typical owls, Strigidae; and the barn-owls, Tytonidae. Family: Tytonidae (Barn, Grass & Bay Owls) Genus: Tyto (Barn & Grass Owls) Western Barn Owl Tyto alba. 1837. The African grass owl is found in moist grassland and open savanna up to an elevation of 3,200 m (10,500 ft). forested areas of the continent. The African grass owl species is regarded by some authors as the same species as the eastern grass owl Tyto longimembris of Asia and Australia. BY MIKE GAWORECKI | MONGABAY | 5 AUGUST 2016 A new species of Scops owl yet to be described to science has been documented on Príncipe, one of the two major islands that make up the country of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea off the western coast of Central Africa. Information Description: . Guide Daniel Haesslich photographed this beautiful Afrcian scops owl which can reach up to a height of 18 cm. Family: Strigidae (Typical Owls) Genus: Otus (Scops Owls) Sandy Scops Owl. Family: Strigidae (Typical Owls) ... 13 owl species displayed. It can seem like there are many more species, however, because many owls go by a number of different common names throughout their ranges. Claws are blackish-brown. Birds. During courtship, the male and female may be heard dueting. The male normally roosts near the nest, singing briefly after sunset before leaving the daytime roost, and the female often answers from the nest hole. Otus ireneae. 1999). Grey and brown morphs are known to exist. eight months. Adult plumage is achieved at the age of 40-80 days, and sexual maturity is reached at This owl is is generally found below 2000m elevation. Breeding: The African Scops owl is monogamous. Handbook of the Birds of the World: Barn Owls to Hummingbirds, Owls: A Guide to the Owls of the World (Second Edition), Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide (Second Edition). New, undescribed species of Scops owl documented on Príncipe island. sites to the female by singing from the entrance of a tree hole, often one made by a woodpecker. Barn owls with their distinct heart-shaped facial disks make up the Tytonidae family, while all other owl species are in the Strigidae or typical owl family. Incubation starts with the second egg and lasts about 24 days. The ear-tufts are small, but well developed. This owl has some of the largest ear tufts of all owl species which is where it gets its name from. Upperparts are grey or brownish, with darker streaks and fine vermiculations. This call is given in long At about 3-4 weeks the young leave the nest, and soon begin to catch Original Description: Swainson, William. ground to seize prey. 11, Ornithology, Birds of Western Africa, Part 1, p. 127-129. The female incubates them alone, while the male supplies the food. See also: Other owls from Africa, The African Scops owl is a nocturnal bird, roosting during the daytime in dense foliage, against a branch or... Voice: . Partly absent from the densely The Naturalist's Library, Vol. Genus: Otus. Indian Queens, Cornwall, UK. The male advertises potential nesting See also: Owls of The World, N orth America, C entral America, S outh America, Africa, M iddle East, Asia, Oceania. the primaries having large white spots. African Scops Owl Skopsuil Otus senegalensis This species is called the African Scops Owl to distinguish it from the European Scops Owl O. scops which migrates into Africa north of the equator for the nonbreeding sea-son. Derivation of scientific name: The African Wood Owl and a number of Neotropical owl species were previously placed in the genus Ciccaba, but due to their close relatedness to species of the genus Strix, they have now been included in the genus Strix (Claus et al. sequences at intervals of 5-8 seconds. African Wood Owl: Larger Top Five Owl Species at Kariega. This small owl is now listed in the rare and endangered category. scorpions and small vertebrates such as rodents, frogs, geckos and small birds. Habitat. Website design by. African Owls Africa is home to more than 30 species of owl including some that eat fish. A South African study showed the black-headed heron as the most important prey by biomass for Verreaux's... Other prey. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. Its size varies between 23 and 29 cm in length and weighs approximately 195g. This owl can be found in both open grasslands and coniferous woodlands, they are more concerned with the size of the area that the type. brought by the male until they are 18 days old, after which both barents feed them. Pairs may roost close to one another, or even in a loose colony. Weight 45-100g. They are found across a wide range in Africa, from Sudan to Congo in the north to the east coast of South Africa in the south. Today the species is assigned to the genus Otus. Verreaux’s Eagle Owl (Giant Eagle Owl): the biggest owl in Africa. The African species is widely distributed in savanna woodlands, extending north from southern Africa through- The African Scops Owl is a very small owl with small, well developed ear-tufts that are blade-shaped when erected. Wing length 117-144mm. There is evidence of owls in Africa going back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians, including tomb paintings and mummified remains. A small, compact, gray-brown owl with small ear tufts. The Giant Eagle Owl lives up to its … Tail length 58-63mm. The owls in the list are the order Strigiformes, comprising around 200 extant bird of prey species. There are more than 225 owl species in the world, divided into two families. Normally nests solitarily, but several pairs may nest close to one another, prey, but are fed by both parents until they are 60 days old.