Soumagnes Grass Owl - Tyto soumagnei

Also known as Madagascar Grass Owl, Madagascar Red Owl

Description: Similar to a smallish Barn Owl, with an overall ochre-reddish to yellow-ochre colour. The upperparts have have fine dark spots, which are larger towards the tail and on the wings. Underparts are similar with scattered, very fine dark spots. The facial disc is white, with a brownish tinge between the lower edge of the eyes and the base of the light grey bill. The rim of the facial disc is brown. The eyes are blackish.
Feet are smoky -grey with greyish-brown claws.
They are strictly nocturnal birds.

Size: Length 27.5cm (10.8")  Wing Length 20.9cm (8.2")
Weight 323-435g (11.4-15.4oz)

Habits: Little known, probably similar to the Barn Owl.

Voice: Loud hissing screech of about 1.5 seconds - similar to barn owl, but with more energy, and dropping in pitch towards the end. There is also a wok-wok-wok call that is believed to be an alarm call.

Hunting & Food: Hunts along forest edges and fence-lines, also hunts in rice fields. Eats small rodents and insects.

Breeding: Little known - Nests in tree cavities. Probably similar breeding habits to the Barn Owl. In the only recorded nest site, the adults nested in July, at the end of the rainy season. Young were fledged at about 10 weeks of age, and left their parents territory 4 months later. It was suspected that only two eggs were laid.

Habitat: Humid rainforests in Northeast Madagascar. Often found on forest edge, clearings, rice paddies and secondary scrub.

Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar.

Distribution of Tyto soumagnei

Status: Rare and Endangered.

Original Description: Grandidier, Alfred. 1877. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaire des séance de l’académie des Sciences. Paris. 85, p. 1282.

References:

Page Information:

Page compiled by Deane P. Lewis.

OwlPages.com Owl Species ID: 010.120.000 - Page last updated 2008-04-01