Red Owl Tyto soumagnei Scientific name definitions

27–30 cm; 323–435 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Plumage suffused orange-red, darker (ochre-yellow to reddish-ochre) above and paler (more ochre) below , with fine black spots; tail relatively long (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); heart-shaped facial disc greyish-buff , darker around eyes and on rim (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); eyes blackish, bill pale grey, toes smoky grey (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sexes similar. Could be confused with sympatric race of Common Barn-owl (T. alba affinis), but latter is larger (wing length 290–325 mm versus 196–222 mm in present species (2 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ) and has much paler underparts and wing coverts (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile similar to adult, but initially brighter.

N & E Madagascar.

Traditionally linked with undisturbed rainforest at 800–1300 m (3 Halleux, D. and Goodman, S.M. (1994). The rediscovery of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei (Grandidier 1878) in north-eastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International. 4(4): 305-311. Close ). However, recent studies indicate forest edge, rice paddies and other cultivation important, at least for hunting, and day roosts found in small ravines among palms (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ), bananas (Masu sp.) and secondary growth, but also recently in a sinkhole (5 van Esbroeck, J. (2006). Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei in Ankarana Special Reserve, Madagascar. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 13(2): 205-206. Close ); dry deciduous forest (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ) also added as a ‘new’ habitat type and overall altitudinal range recorded as sea-level to 2000 m (7 Irwin, M.T. and Samonds, K.E. (2002). Range extension of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei in Madagascar: the case of a rare, widespread species? Ibis. 144(4): 680-683. Close ). Radio-tagged bird frequented lowland secondary growth and open areas subjected to human disturbance, roosting during day in secondary vegetation, sometimes just 50 m from habitation (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ) and 3–5 m (mean 3·7 m) above ground (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ). Forages in forest and nearby open areas.

Apparently sedentary; radio-tagged bird was sedentary over 15 months within range of 210 ha (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), nesting 2 km from original roosting area of a year earlier.

Almost exclusively small native mammals (insectivores and rodents), especially shrewlike tenrecs (Microgale talazaci (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ), M. cowani) (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ), rice tenrecs (Oryzorictes hova) (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ) and tuft-tailed rats (Eliurus webbi, E. minor) (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ), in size range 13–72 g; also occasional rats (Rattus ratus) (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ), small lemurs (Microcebus rufus) (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ), reptiles (Uroplatus sp.) (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ) and old report of frogs. In dry deciduous forest diet (studied via pellet analysis over several years) slightly different, though still heavily biased towards native fauna, with frogs (Laliostoma sp., Mantidactylus spp., Aglyptodactylus sp., Boophis sp., Ptychadena madagascariensis, Mantella spp., Anodontohyla sp., Cophyla sp., Stumpffia sp.) (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ), a primate (Microcebus tavaratra) (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ) and insects (Coleoptera, Dictyoptera, Orthoptera) (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ) present in pellets in some years; however, mammals (especially Suncus madagascariensis and Eliurus antsingy, but also Microgale brevicaudata) constituted the greatest proportion of prey items with geckos (Homopholis boivini, Uroplatus fimbriatus, U. henkeli, U. ebenaui, U. sikorae, Paroedura homalorhina, P. stumpffi, P. karstophila, P. oviceps, Geckolepis spp., Hemidactylus spp.) being important in one year (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ). No records of predation on chameleons (9 Jenkins, R.K.B., Rabearivony, J. and Rakotomanana, H. (2009). Predation on chameleons in Madagascar: a review. African Journal of Herpetology 58(2): 131-136. Close ). Captive bird was successfully fed beef (!), frogs, rats, cockroaches and grasshoppers (3 Halleux, D. and Goodman, S.M. (1994). The rediscovery of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei (Grandidier 1878) in north-eastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International. 4(4): 305-311. Close ). There is apparently very little overlap in prey selected by this species and the sympatric race of T. alba on Madagascar (8 Goodman, S.M. and Thorstrom, R. (1998). The diet of Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Wilson Bulletin. 110: 417-421. Close ), with, for example, the latter feeding on bats and birds in dry deciduous forest study mentioned above (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ). No information on feeding behaviour; strictly nocturnal, and recorded singly or in pairs.

Loud, eerie, hissing screech, “shreeee”, dropping toward end and lasting c. 1·5 seconds (4 Thorstrom, R., Hart, J. and Watson, R.T. (1997). New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Ibis. 139(3): 477-481. Close ), similar to that of T. alba but higher-pitched, downward-inflected (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and more vigorous; also “wok wok wok” or “wac-wac-wac-...” calls, and a single, explosive call or brief resonant alarm.

Only one nest described: site c. 23 m above ground in natural tree cavity in isolated Weinmannia 500 m from edge of main forest block; two recently hatched young Sept; natal down white, developing noticeable facial disc at one month; fledged Nov–Dec at ten weeks, and remained in natal area for at least c. 4 months. Might also breed in rock cavities, given that the species is known to roost in them (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ).

VULNERABLE. CITES I. Restricted-range species: present in East Malagasy Wet Forests EBA. Previously listed as Endangered. Current population estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals within overall range of 52,200 km². Old records from several areas including Sihanaka forest and Masoala Peninsula; sighting in Mar 1973 near Andasibe was first record in wild since 1934; one found in captivity in Aug 1993 at Andapa, in Anjanaharibe Sud Special Reserve, c. 475 km (3 Halleux, D. and Goodman, S.M. (1994). The rediscovery of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei (Grandidier 1878) in north-eastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International. 4(4): 305-311. Close ) N of known range. Old specimen record comes either from within or close to Analamazaotra Special Reserve (3 Halleux, D. and Goodman, S.M. (1994). The rediscovery of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei (Grandidier 1878) in north-eastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International. 4(4): 305-311. Close ), while more recently it has been found in Bemanevika New Protected Area (where described as common and four individuals are being radio-tracked), Kalambatritra Special Reserve (extending the species’ known range 500 km southwards) (7 Irwin, M.T. and Samonds, K.E. (2002). Range extension of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei in Madagascar: the case of a rare, widespread species? Ibis. 144(4): 680-683. Close ), in Ankarana Special Reserve in far N of country (5 van Esbroeck, J. (2006). Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei in Ankarana Special Reserve, Madagascar. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 13(2): 205-206. Close ) and at Tsitongambarika in the SE lowlands. Additional protected areas known to harbour the species include: Mantadia National Park, Marotandrano Special Reserve, Masoala National Park, Montagne d’Ambre National Park, Tsaratanana Strict Reserve and Zahamena National Park. Individual trapped in Oct 1994 in Masoala Peninsula was radio-tagged and monitored until Dec 1995 using radio telemetry; had home range of 210 ha; in Sept 1995 it nested and raised two young, one of which was fitted with a transmitter and observed through Mar 1996, four months after it had fledged. Probably always uncommon within restricted range, much of which is threatened by habitat destruction; true distribution and status, however, possibly clouded by confusion with T. alba, which is widespread and relatively common throughout Madagascar. Although seems able to hunt over degraded habitats, its diet is heavily geared towards indigenous and endemic fauna, which must also be at risk from continued and ongoing habitat degradation (6 Cardiff, S.G. and Goodman, S.M. (2008). Natural history of the Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) in dry deciduous tropical forest in Madagascar. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120(4): 891-897. Close ). Intensive research and conservation urgently required.