Spot-bellied Eagle-owl

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Spot-bellied Eagle-owl
A Spot-bellied Eagle-owl from the Biligirirangan Hills
A Spot-bellied Eagle-owl from the Biligirirangan Hills
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo (but see text)
Species: B. nipalensis
Binomial name
Bubo nipalensis
Hodgson, 1836

The Spot-bellied Eagle-owl, also known as the Forest Eagle-owl, Bubo nipalensis is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance. It is a forest-inhabiting species found in southern and south-eastern Asia. This, like its relative the Barred Eagle-owl, is one of the species that would have to be moved into Ketupa if that genus is to be retained, according to mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Olsen et al. 2002).

The Spot-bellied Eagle-owl is nocturnal and spends the day hidden among foliage of a large forest tree. At dusk it becomes active and hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds up to the size of junglefowl.

Noted for its strange, human-sounding call, it is known locally as ulama or "Devil Bird" in Sri Lanka. Another local name is Maha Bakamuna ("large horned owl").

[edit] References

  • Olsen, Jery; Wink, Michael; Sauer-Gürth, Heidi & Trost, Susan (2002): A new Ninox owl from Sumba, Indonesia. Emu 102(3): 223-231. DOI:10.1071/MU02006 PDF fulltext

[edit] External links

  • cryptozoology.com: Devil Bird. Retrieved 2006-DEC-23.


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