Himalayan Owl Strix nivicolum Scientific name definitions

35–40 cm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); 375–392 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Medium-sized, polymorphic Strix with round head, whitish throat ; differs from highly similar <em>S</em>. <em>aluco</em> in being darker overall, unstreaked on back, more coarsely marked below and with more strongly barred tail . Upperparts dark brown with coarse mottling and no prominent streaks; whitish or buffy outer webs of scapulars form pale line across shoulders; underparts whitish to pale rufous-tawny with coarse, dark streaks and bars; rectrices with broad dark bars; irides dark brown; bill yellowish-grey. Plumage pattern of rufous morph similar to that of grey morph but with rufous vs greyish colouration. Nominate race intermediate in plumage colour and relatively large (wing length 282–320 mm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ); race ma paler and smaller (wing length 272–297 mm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ) than nominate; race yamadae  darker than nominate and roughly same size (wing length 280–320 mm (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 with weakly barred crown and dark with white frosting (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Until recently considered conspecific with S. aluco, but differs in having entirely different song (a double “huhu”, repeated with a space of several seconds, vs the two-stage “huuu (long pause) wu-hrrruuu” of aluco (4); considerably darker plumage (dark brown vs grey-brown, greatly reduced white admixed with grey) (2); markedly more strongly barred tail (2); overall similar size but shorter tail (160–192 mm vs 205–220 mm in published data (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ) ) (at least 1). Proposed race obrieni, from Lushai Hills, in NE India (Mizoram), subsumed within nominate. Three subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Occurs in coniferous forests, oak forests and rocky forested ravines from c. 1000–2650 m elevation (perhaps lower in winter) (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Mostly resident, although may move to lower elevations in winter (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Little information. Reported to feed on insects (especially beetles), small mammals and small birds (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Nocturnal.

Song consists of two clear, rapid dove-like hoots, “coo-coo”  , the second note sometimes slightly longer and lower-pitched (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Phrase repeated at intervals of several to more than 10 seconds.

Very little information. Nests from late winter to spring, laying eggs in tree cavities and crevices in rocks (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close , 1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Reported to be fairly common, although no information on global population size or population trends. BirdLife International suggests that numbers are stable given the absence of evidence for declines or major threats to populations. The species would be expected to decline locally anywhere within its range where forests have been destroyed.