Madagascar Long-eared Owl
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| Asio madagascariensis (A. Smith, 1834) |
The Madagascar Long-eared Owl, Asio madagascariensis is a medium sized owl ranging from 31 to 50 cm in length. It generally has a dark brown facial disk, black bill and orange eyes. Its long ear tufts are dark brown, flecked with tan, matching the head. The upperparts are black and tan, speckled and vermiculated with brown. The belly and breast are a light buffy color.
These owls are usually found at 1600-1800 meters above sea level in a variety of habitats including humid evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, and secondary and degraded forests.
This species feeds mainly on mamals such as lemurs, free-tailed bats, and rats. It hunts at night, usually in or near forests.
It roosts in dense foliage during the day, and probably nests in trees, but not much is known about its breeding. It is thought to lay its eggs in stick nests created by other animals.
Its call is usually a series of barks, varrying in pitch and volume, but sometimes it will utter a series of more hoot-like notes, described by some as ulooh.
This species is not globally threatened, but its status is not certain. It is an endemic species to Madagascar, and it is difficult to detect.
