The Philippine Hawk Owl (Ninox philippensis) is an owl which is endemic to the Philippines.
Anatomy
The Philippine Hawk Owl is an earless species. The males and females look much alike. The subspecies differ in size and pattern on the bottom side. N. p. reyi and N. p. spilonota are the biggest and N. p. philippensis, N. p. spilocephala and N. p. mindorensis the smallest. The pattern on the bottom side of N. p. reyi, N. p. spilonota and N. p. mindorensis is checked. The pattern on all the other subspecies is striped.
N. p. philippensis has a white spot the eyes and the beak and a white moustache forming an x-shape on the head. The upper parts of all subspecies are brown and the wings are covered with oval shaped white spots. The tail is dark brown with narrow white stripes. The sides of the head are brown, the chin is of a whitish colour, while the rest of the bottom side is pale white with wide brown stripes (which are more prominent on the belly). The bottom side of the tail is white. The chequered subspecies have these chequered patterns on the bottom side, on the head, the upper parts of the back and the wings. The paws are halfway covered with feathers. The beak is olive coloured. The paws are pale yellow.
This species grows (including the tail) to a length of 21 to 26,5 cm and has a wingspan of 16,5 to 20,5 cm.
Distribution
The species is endemic to the Philippines.
Ecology and life history
Habitat
The Philippine Hawk Owl can be found in forest areas up to 1800 metres, although they mostly reside in areas below 1000 metres above sea level.
Life history
This species mates around February. The nests can be found in hollow trees.
Etymology and taxonomic history
There are eight known subspecies:
- Ninox philippensis centralis (Bohol, Boracay, Carabao, Guimaras, Negros, Panay, Semirara and Siquijor)
- Ninox philippensis mindorensis (Mindoro)
- Ninox philippensis philippensis (Biliran, Buad, Catanduanes, Leyte, Luzon, Marinduque, Polillo and Samar)
- Ninox philippensis proxima (Masbate)
- Ninox philippensis reyi (Bongao, Jolo, Sanga Sanga, Siasi, Sibutu and Tawi-Tawi)
- Ninox philippensis spilocephala (Basilan, Dinagat, Mindanao and Siargao)
- Ninox philippensis spilonota (Camiguin, Cebu, Sibuyan and Tablas)
- Ninox philippensis ticaoensis (Ticao)
The local name for this bird is Kuwago.
