Buffy fish-owl
| Buffy Fish-owl | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Sub-family | Striginae |
| Tribe Information | |
| Tribe | Bombini |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Bubo |
| Species Information | |
| Species | B. ketupu |
| Synonyms | Ketupa ketupu |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The buffy fish-owl (Bubo ketupu) is a species of owl found throughout southeast Asia and several islands of Indonesia.
Description
A moderately-large owl, buffy fish-owls are brown throughout; dark brown above, lighter rufus-brown below. Primaries and secondaries are banded with white, with some spotting on the leading edge of the wings. Dark shaft-streaking is present on the chest, but less-so on the belly. The ear tufts are large, and splayed outward to the side. In keeping with its fishing habits, the yellow-gray tarsi and feet are unfeathered.
Some authorities place it within the genus Ketupa, its original designation. Debate still occurs as to whether it is a fishing owl or an eagle owl of the genus Bubo.
Habitat
Buffy fish-owls are found in densely-forested areas of southeast Asia, mainly with access to streams and rivers; coastal mangrove areas are also inhabited. Their range includes far-eastern India, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and the larger islands of Indonesia.
Feeding
Buffy fish-owls mainly take fish and crustaceans; other small game up to the size of rats are sometimes taken when the opportunity arises. The owls hunt from perches alongside streams and other bodies of water, swooping down to snatch prey at the surface. It has also been observed that they eat carrion as well.
Threats
The only threat is man, and it has been persecuted in some areas under the belief that it competes for fish. According to IUCN, the birds have a stable population; its large range and habit of seeking dense forest in which to roost are factors which list the species as Least concern.[2]
