Sri Lanka Bay Owl

Overview

The Sri Lanka bay owl (Phodilus assimilis) is a species of bay owl in the family Tytonidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Oriental bay owl but is now treated as a full species due to its distinctive call, plumage, and disjunct distribution.

Identification

• Distinctive plumage and call differentiate it from the Oriental bay owl.
• Song consists of multiple whistles with inflections, heard during the winter breeding season.
• Highly secretive, with presence often detected only upon the discovery of injured individuals.

Habitat

This species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats in Kerala, South Western India. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is currently threatened by habitat loss.

Did you know?

The genus name Phodilus derives from the Ancient Greek words for 'light' or 'daylight' and 'timid' or 'cowardly'.