Cebu boobook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cebu boobook |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ninox
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| Species: |
rumseyi
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The Cebu boobook or Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) is a special type of owl. It belongs to the Strigidae family, which includes most owls. This owl is endemic to the Philippines, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. Scientists used to think it was a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl. However, in 2012, they decided it was a unique species after studying its calls and other features.
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What Does the Cebu Boobook Look Like?
The Cebu boobook is a medium-sized owl. It lives in wooded areas on the island of Cebu. Its head and upper body are dark brown with faint stripes. Its belly and chest are an orange-brown color.
Special Features
This owl has some cool markings. You might see white spots on its wings. It also has a pale bar right behind its shoulder. Its eyes are a bright yellow, and it has white eyebrows that form a V-shape. A large white patch on its throat makes it easy to spot. No other owls on Cebu look quite like it!
Size and Sound
The Cebu boobook is an "earless" owl, meaning it doesn't have the feather tufts that look like ears on some other owls. Both male and female boobooks look similar. They build their nests in natural holes found in older, larger trees.
This owl is one of the biggest Philippine hawk-owls. It can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. Other Philippine hawk-owls, like the Luzon or Mindanao boobooks, are much smaller, usually 15 to 20 centimeters tall.
The Cebu boobook has a very unique song. It sounds like "wip! Doo-wip! Doh!" The middle notes go down then up, and the last note falls. It also makes single "wip" sounds and rough, raspy noises.
Where Does the Cebu Boobook Live?
The Cebu boobook's natural habitat (the place where it lives) is in moist lowland forests. These can be primary forests (old, untouched forests) or secondary forests (forests that have grown back after being disturbed). They live in areas up to 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) above sea level. You might also see them in clearings or plantations if there's a forest nearby.
Why Is It in Danger?
The IUCN Red List is a list that shows how threatened different species are. The Cebu boobook is classified as vulnerable. This means it faces a high risk of becoming endangered in the wild. Scientists believe there are only about 250 to 999 adult Cebu boobooks left. They think the actual number is probably closer to the lower end of that range.
The biggest threat to this owl is habitat loss. This happens when its forest home is destroyed. Forests are cleared for many reasons, including:
- Logging (both legal and illegal)
- mining
- Turning forest land into farms using slash-and-burn methods
- Building new cities and towns (urbanization)
Cebu island has lost almost all of its forests. Back in the 1890s, there was a lot of deforestation. Now, only a tiny bit of forest remains—about 0.03% of the island, or 15 square kilometers (about 6 square miles). The remaining forests on Cebu are still being cut down, and animals are being hunted. This makes it even harder for the Cebu boobook to survive.
Other Animals Affected
Because of this habitat loss, many other animals that live in Cebu's forests are also in danger. For example, the Cebu flowerpecker is one of the most endangered birds in the world. Other threatened species include the black shama and the streak-breasted bulbul. Sadly, some species, like the Cebu warty pig, have already disappeared forever.
Protecting the Cebu Boobook
The Cebu boobook lives in some protected forest areas. These include Alcoy, Argao, Dalaguete, Tabunan, and Boljoon. However, these protected areas often need more careful management to truly keep the owls safe. Right now, there isn't a specific program just for saving the Cebu boobook. More efforts are needed to protect this unique owl and its forest home.
