Northern Boobook
Ninox japonica
| Length: 11-13 inches | Wingspan: 28 inches | Seasonality: Non-resident in South Dakota |
| ID Keys: Hawk-like structure, no obvious facial disks, dark brown overall, barred tail, light plumage below with brown streaks | ||
The
Northern Boobook (also known as the Brown Hawk Owl) is a unique looking owl of
southern Asia, with a normal range from India eastward to Indonesia and
southern China. They are known in North America only by a pair of
records, both in Alaskan islands, where a bird was photographed on St. Paul
Island in 2007, and a dead bird was found on Kiska Island in 2008. The name
"Brown Hawk Owl" refers to the very hawk-like appearance of the species,
with a longer tail and more upright, slender appearance than most owls.
Habitat: Found in forested habitats, including lowland rainforests, mangrove swamps, and also wooded urban areas and parks.
Diet: Feeds on frogs, lizards, small birds, small rodents, and large insects.
Behavior: Nocturnal, hunting only at night. When found on their daytime perches, they usually stretch their bodies as thin as possible and remain motionless, in an attempt to remain hidden.
Nesting: The nest of a Northern Boobook is in the cavity of a tree. The female lays between 3 and 5 eggs. The female alone incubates the eggs, with the male bringing food during the incubation period. Both parents feed the young once they hatch. The young fledge after about 4 weeks.
Song: Call of a Northern Boobook is a soft ooo-ook, repeated a number of times.
Migration: Considered a permanent resident throughout their range.
Interactive eBird map: Click here for an interactive eBird map of Northern Boobook sightings
Similar Species: Not likely to be confused with another species if one should again stray to North America.
Conservation Status: Populations appear to be stable, and the IUCN lists the Northern Boobook as a species of "least concern".
Further Information: 1) BirdLife International - Northern Boobook
2) Northern Boobook - The Owl Pages
3) Account of Northern Boobook found on Kiska Island in Alaska
Photo Information: Photo taken by Vijay Anand Ismavel - May 20th, 2013 - Makunda Christian Hospital, Karimganj District, Assam, India - Photo licensed under Creative CommonsAttribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.
Additional Photos: Additional Photos Coming Soon!!
| Click below for a higher-resolution map |
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| South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota |
Additional Northern Boobook Photos (coming soon!!)
