The brown hawk-owl, aka Oriental hawk owl or the brown boobook, is found in southeast Asia; primarily in India east to southern China and Indonesia. They are also considered a vagrant species on the Palau islands. There have also been observations of this owl as far east as St. Paul Island, Alaska in August 2007. They tend to have longer tails than most other owls. Due to their numbers and range, they are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Ninox scutulata
Weight: Up to .5 lbs.
Length: Up to 12.5 inches
Lifespan: Up to 10 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) This species of owl is both crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal (active at night).
2.) Brown hawk-owls typically sing from the same tall tree branch each night.
3.) They prey on frogs, lizards, insects, small birds, and mice.
4.) Due to their predatory habits, smaller birds are often seen mobbing these owls, during the day.
5.) The brown hawk-owl has a varying call based on its region. There are 3 known calls: 2 – 3 short, mellow, hollow woop notes, a hollow mellow double note, and a lower-pitched with a shorter pause in between.
But wait, there’s more on the brown hawk-owl!
6.) These owls have a huge breeding range of over 3.1 million square miles!
7.) Nest sites are up to 60 feet above ground in tree hollows.
Did you know…?
A grouping of brown hawk-owls is collectively known as a “schizophrenia”.
8.) Females lay up to 5 eggs. But the amount of eggs laid depends upon their region.
Now a Short Brown Hawk-Owl Video!
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