Long-whiskered Owlet

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Long-whiskered Owlet

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Xenoglaux O'Neill & Graves,GR, 1977
Species:	X. loweryi

Binomial name

Xenoglaux loweryi
(O'Neill & Graves,GR, 1977)

The Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) is a tiny owl that is endemic to a small area in the Andean mountains in Amazonas and San Martín in northern Peru. It is restricted to cloud forests with dense undergrowth and epiphytes at about 1890-2200 meters (6200-7220 ft) above sea level.

The Long-whiskered Owlet is mainly brown with a whitish belly and eye brow. The large eyes are reddish-orange. Although it has no ear tufts, this small owl's facial feathers extend out past its head, making it appear to have long tufts. The name of its monotypic genus Xenoglaux means "strange owl" and refers to these long facial feathers. With a total length of 13-14 cm (5-5½ in), it is among the smallest owls in the World.

Very little is known about this species. It has been captured in mist nets on three separate occasions, but had never been observed under "normal" circumstances until early 2007, when rangers and researchers working in the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva encountered it three times during daylight hours and recorded its calls during night (AP 2007, BirdLife International 2007). It probably feeds on insects.

Due to its rarity, restricted habitat, and ongoing deforestation within its tiny range, it is currently considered endangered by BirdLife International. It is estimated that the total population is between 250 and 1000 individuals. The recently established Area de Conservación Privada Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva protects an important site for the owlet and other species restricted to this region, incl. Johnson's Tody-Tyrant, Royal Sunangel and Ochre-fronted Antpitta.

[edit] References

BirdLife Species Factsheet
BirdLife International (2004). Xenoglaux loweryi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered.
American Bird Conservancy (2007): Long Sought After Bird Spotted in Peruvian Nature Reserve.Retrieved on 6 April 2007.
Associated Press (AP) (2007): Tiny Rare Owl Spotted in Peru Reserve. Version of 2007-MAR-27. Retrieved 2007-APR-01.
BirdLife International (2007): Long-whiskered Owlet puts on a show. Version of 2007-MAR-27. Retrieved 2007-APR-01.