Southern white-faced owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern white-faced owl |
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|---|---|
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| Near Chobe River, Botswana | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ptilopsis
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| Species: |
granti
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| Synonyms | |
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Ptilopsis erlangeri |
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The southern white-faced owl (Ptilopsis granti) is a small owl that lives in the southern part of Africa. It belongs to the owl family called Strigidae. This owl was once thought to be the same species as the northern white-faced owl. However, scientists now consider them to be two different species.
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What Does the Southern White-faced Owl Look Like?
This owl is about 22–28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) long. It weighs around 185–220 g (6.5–7.8 oz). Its body is mostly grey with dark stripes. It has white spots on its shoulder feathers. The owl's belly is whitish with dark stripes.
Special Features of This Owl
The southern white-faced owl has a white face with a black border. It also has black feathers around its big orange eyes. On top of its head, it has two short ear-tufts with black tips. Young owls have a greyish face. The northern white-faced owl usually looks lighter and more brownish. It also has fewer stripes on its belly.
How Does the Southern White-faced Owl Communicate?
This owl makes a special sound. Its call is a quick, bubbling series of hoots. It usually calls at night and repeats the sound often. These fast, short notes are followed by a longer, higher-pitched hoot. Owls use these calls a lot when they are looking for a mate. Sometimes, a pair of owls will even sing together. The northern white-faced owl has a very different call with only two notes.
Where Do Southern White-faced Owls Live?
The southern white-faced owl lives across a wide area in Africa. You can find it from Gabon in the west to southern Kenya in the east. Its range also goes south to Namibia and northern South Africa. These owls prefer to live in savanna areas and dry woodlands. You will usually see them alone or in pairs.
What Do Southern White-faced Owls Eat?
These owls mainly hunt large insects. They also sometimes eat small mammals, other birds, and reptiles.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Southern white-faced owls usually lay their eggs in an old nest that another bird built. A female owl typically lays two or three eggs. She keeps the eggs warm for about 30 days. This process is called incubation. The young owls leave the nest about one month after they hatch.
How Do Southern White-faced Owls Handle Cold?
After the warm summer, southern white-faced owls change their bodies. They increase how much energy they use when resting. This helps them get ready for colder weather. It is unusual for these owls to do this. They also have a lower resting energy use than other birds their size. This helps them survive when there is not much food, especially in winter.
