Fearful Owl
Encyclopedia
The Fearful Owl is a medium-sized owl
endemic to the Solomon Islands
and Bougainville
in Papua New Guinea
. It is generally seen no more than 800 meters above sea level
, where it is found in tall lowland or hill forest
s. It nests in tree holes and cracks.
It has a rufous facial disk and distinct white eyebrows. The inner edge of the facial disk is also white. It is usually mottled brown with deep ochre underparts and blackish streaks. This species may be confused with the Solomon Hawk Owl
, although the latter is slightly smaller and more slender. It is also similar in appearance to the Laughing Owl
, which is now extinct.
The Fearful Owl preys on phalanger
s, especially the Northern Common Cuscus
. Overhunting of the Northern Common Cuscus may be threatening the Fearful Owl, although habitat loss due to logging is the primary cause of population decline.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
endemic to the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Bougainville
Bougainville Province
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomons, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island , and the province also includes the island of Buka and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets...
in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is generally seen no more than 800 meters above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, where it is found in tall lowland or hill forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s. It nests in tree holes and cracks.
It has a rufous facial disk and distinct white eyebrows. The inner edge of the facial disk is also white. It is usually mottled brown with deep ochre underparts and blackish streaks. This species may be confused with the Solomon Hawk Owl
Solomon Hawk Owl
The Solomons Boobook is a small to medium-sized hawk owl with rusty underparts that are sometimes spotted or barred white. It has a gray-brown facial disk, yellow eyes, a gray beak and white eyebrows...
, although the latter is slightly smaller and more slender. It is also similar in appearance to the Laughing Owl
Laughing Owl
The Laughing Owl , also known as Whēkau or the White-faced Owl, was an endemic owl found in New Zealand, but is now extinct. It was plentiful when European settlers arrived in New Zealand in 1840. Specimens were sent to the British Museum, where a scientific description was published in 1845...
, which is now extinct.
The Fearful Owl preys on phalanger
Phalanger
Phalanger, from the Greek Phalangion, meaning spider's web, from their webbed toes is a genus of possum. They are marsupials of the family Phalangeridae...
s, especially the Northern Common Cuscus
Northern Common Cuscus
The Northern Common Cuscus , also known as the Grey Cuscus, is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is native to northern New Guinea and adjacent smaller islands, but is now also found in the Bismarck Archipelago, south-east and central Moluccas, the Solomons and Timor, where it...
. Overhunting of the Northern Common Cuscus may be threatening the Fearful Owl, although habitat loss due to logging is the primary cause of population decline.