Akun eagle-owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Akun eagle-owl |
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The Akun eagle-owl (Ketupa leucosticta) is a type of owl. It belongs to the Strigidae family. This owl lives in the tropical rainforests of Africa.
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About the Akun Eagle-Owl's Name
A German bird expert named Gustav Hartlaub first described the Akun eagle-owl in 1855. He found a sample of the owl in Ghana. He gave it the scientific name Buco leucostictus.
The name leucostictus comes from Ancient Greek. It means "white-speckled," which describes the owl's look. Today, this owl is in a different group called Ketupa. A French scientist, René Lesson, created this group in 1831.
The Akun eagle-owl is a "monotypic" species. This means there are no different types or subspecies of this owl. The name "Akun" comes from a local name for the owl in southwest Cameroon.
What the Akun Eagle-Owl Looks Like
The Akun eagle-owl is one of the smaller eagle-owls. Its head and upper body are mostly dark to reddish-brown. It has light, dusky brown bars on its wings and back. You can also see white marks around its shoulders.
It has two large "ear" tufts on its head. These tufts are dark brown with white spots. Its eyes are a pale yellow color. The owl's upper chest is light reddish-brown with dark bars. Its lower chest, belly, and vent (underparts) are white. These parts have reddish-brown wavy lines and large blackish spots.
Young Akun eagle-owls look different. They have a whitish head and body with reddish-brown bars. Their wings and tail are brown. The owl's usual call is a low, fast, clucking sound. If it feels scared, it makes a strange quacking noise.
Where the Akun Eagle-Owl Lives
The Akun eagle-owl lives in different places across west Africa. Its home stretches along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. You can find it from Guinea in the west to Cameroon in the east. It also lives south into Angola.
Inland, it can be found in the southern Central African Republic. It also lives in Congo and the northern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This owl mostly lives in lowland rainforests. These can be old, untouched forests or newer ones. It especially likes forest edges and clearings. You might also see it along riverbanks or on forested islands in rivers.
How the Akun Eagle-Owl Lives
Like most owls, the Akun eagle-owl is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. It leaves its daytime resting spot when the sun goes down to hunt for food.
It's unusual for an eagle-owl because it mostly eats insects. Its small feet and weak beak stop it from catching bigger animals. Its main foods are beetles, cicadas, and locusts.
The owl catches these insects in two ways. It either picks them off leaves or catches them while flying. Then, it takes the insect back to a branch. It holds the insect with its feet and tears it into small pieces with its beak.
Not much is known about how the Akun eagle-owl raises its young. In west Africa, it seems to lay eggs between November and January. Young owls have been seen in nests in Liberia from February to April. Like some other eagle-owls, the Akun eagle-owl builds its nest on the ground.
