Brown Wood Owl

Overview

The brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica) is a medium-large owl belonging to the family Strigidae. It is a resident breeder across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Taiwan, and south China. The species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Medium-large bird measuring 45–57 cm, with uniformly dark brown upperparts and faint white spotting on the shoulders.
• Buff underparts with brown streaking, distinguished by a white neckband and a brown or rufous facial disc edged with white.
• Dark brown eyes and similar appearance between sexes.
• Vocalisations include a deep 'hoo hoo HOO', a 'goke-goke-ga-LOOO', or a loud scream, with an alarm call of 'wow-wow'.

Habitat

This species is highly nocturnal and is commonly found in dense forests. Its range encompasses a broad area from the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir east to Taiwan, as well as parts of Indonesia and South China. It is a resident breeder throughout this region in south Asia.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. It can often be located by the small birds that mob it while it is roosting in a tree during the day.

Did you know?

Some subspecies, such as the Javan wood-owl and the Himalayan wood-owl, are distinct in appearance and vocalisation from others, leading to the possibility that they may be separate species rather than mere subspecies.