Andaman Hawk Owl - Ninox affinis
Calls - Ninox affinis
[For help with terms used in the description, see parts of an owl. For general characteristics common to most owl species, see owl physiology.]
Description: The facial disc is greyish. Eyes are yellow, cere is dull green and the bill is yellowish-horn, paler on the upper ridge and tip. The crown and mantle are plain brown with indistinct fine ochre vermiculations. The mantle has a rufous tint.
Upperparts are brown, with the outer webs of the scapulars having larger pale cinnamon-buffish areas. Flight and tail feathers are barred brown and buff, with the secondaries having a rufous tinge.
Underparts are pale brownish-buff, streaked chestnut-brown over the entire underside - these streaks appearing as long stripes from the neck to the belly. Tarsi are feathered to the base of the toes, which a bare or sparsely bristled, and coloured yellowish. Claws are blackish-horn.
Size: Length 25-28cm. Wing length 167-170mm. No weight data available.
Habits: Little known, probably similar to the Brown Hawk Owl.
Voice: A short, hollow, guttural, downslurred croak repeated at intervals of several seconds - crauwu  .
Hunting & Food: The Andaman Hawk Owl feeds mainly on insects. This owl has been observed hawking moths and beetles in flight.
Breeding: The breeding biology of this owl is virtually unknown.
Habitat: Mainly lowland forest. Has been observed hunting in low secondary forest.
Distribution: The Andaman Hawk Owl is endemic to the Andaman Islands.
Distribution of the Andaman Hawk Owl Ninox affinis
Status: Probably endangered. Listed as Near-threatened by BirdLife International.
Original Description: Beavan, Robert Cecil. 1867. Ibis, New Series, vol. 3, p. 316.
Subspecies:
N. a. affinis,
N. a. isolata,
N. a. rexpimenti
References:
Page Information:
Page compiled by Deane Lewis. Page last updated 2013-05-29
OwlPages.com Owl Species ID: 240.100.000
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