Desert Owl Strix hadorami Scientific name definitions

30–35 cm; wingspan 95–98 cm; c. 140–284 g (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 2 Kirwan, G.M., Schweizer, M. and Copete, J.L. (2015). Multiple lines of evidence confirm that Hume’s Owl Strix butleri (A. O. Hume, 1878) is two species, with description of an unnamed species (Aves: Non-Passeriformes: Strigidae). Zootaxa. 3904(1): 28–50. Close ). Resembles S. aluco in proportions and plumage pattern, but latter is darker and larger, with dark brown to blackish eyes, partially feathered toes, and typically perches more upright (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). White facial disc  ; crown with dark central band; upperparts light sandy grey or greyish yellow with dusky brown spots and streaks; distinct golden-buff collar across top of mantle, extending as wash across chest; scapulars and wing-coverts tipped pale buff or white; light and dark brown bars on flight-feathers and tail ; underparts cream-coloured with some dark mottling or thin brown shaft streaks, lightly vermiculated on breast and flanks  ; tarsi feathered white; iris  orange; bill yellowish horn; toes greyish. Differs from S. aluco in smaller size, paler appearance, lack of heavy dark streaking, orange eyes. Female larger and heavier than male, e.g. female has tail c. 150 mm, versus male 134–140 mm (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile very similar to that of s. aluco, but pale, barred, with yellowish eyes.

Probably closely related to S. aluco. Formerly treated as conspecific with latter, but clearly different in plumage, eye colour and vocal patterns, and in ecology, as well as DNA. Recent genetic and morphological analyses have revealed that the type specimen of S. butleri—the geographical provenance of which is open to doubt—differs significantly from all other specimens previously ascribed to this species, indicating (despite the lack of vocal data definitively linked to the same population as the type) that two species are involved, principally because the degree of molecular differentiation is close to that in other taxa of Strix traditionally recognized as species, which led to populations of this species from S Oman to the Levant and E Egypt, which share the same morphology and vocalizations, being described as a separate species, Desert Tawny Owl S. hadorami (2 Kirwan, G.M., Schweizer, M. and Copete, J.L. (2015). Multiple lines of evidence confirm that Hume’s Owl Strix butleri (A. O. Hume, 1878) is two species, with description of an unnamed species (Aves: Non-Passeriformes: Strigidae). Zootaxa. 3904(1): 28–50. Close , 3 Robb, M. S., Sangster, G., Aliabadian, M., van den Berg, A.B., Constantine, M., Irestedt, M., Khani, A., Musavi, S.B., Nunes, J.M.G., Willson, M.S. and Walsh, A.J. (2016). The rediscovery of Strix butleri (Hume, 1878) in Oman and Iran, with molecular resolution of the identity of Strix omanensis Robb, van den Berg and Constantine, 218413. Avian Research 7: 7. Close ). Monotypic.

E & S Israel, Jordan, Sinai Peninsula, Red Sea mountains (E Egypt and NE Sudan), and patchily in Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen and S Oman).

Rocky gorges  or canyons in semi-desert and desert, usually with water source nearby; also near acacias and palm groves, and sometimes at ruined buildings; occasionally near settlements, but generally does not exploit man-made habitats, at least on Arabian Peninsula (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Recorded to 2800 m in SW Arabia (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ).

Resident.

Rodents such as gerbils (Gerbillus), jirds (Meriones crassus), spiny mice (Acomys russatus) and shrews (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ); also lizards, geckos (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), birds principally include small passerines such as Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ), scorpions, and grasshoppers, beetles (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) and other insects. In Egypt, analysis of pellets recovered fragments of orthopterans and perhaps coleopterans, an unidentified vole, scorpions, South Sinai hedgehog (Paraechinus dorsalis), Sinai fan-fingered gecko (Ptyodactylus guttatus), yellow fan-fingered gecko (P. h. hasselquistii) and an unidentified passerine (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ). Nocturnal and crepuscular. Hunts mostly from perch, often near roads and tracks; also hawks insects in air; probably forages occasionally by walking on ground. In Egypt, species is most active at dusk and dawn, especially around full moon, with hunting taking place from 50 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ).

Mainly vocalizes early in year (Feb–Apr), when may even call by day (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ); although heard in most months in Arabia, there is just one record of territorial vocalizing in Jun–Sept there (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Long soft hoot followed after short pause (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) by two shorter double hoots  , “hoooo, hoo-u hoo-u”, without tremulous character, repeated after a few seconds; higher-pitched than S. aluco (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and has quality similar to that of Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (6 Porter, R., and S. Aspinall (2010). Birds of the Middle East. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female perhaps gives “kuwitt” call several times in response to male (7 Wrånes, R. E. (1998). Hume’s Tawny Owl. Sandgrouse 20(2):105. Close ). Also reported is sequence of booming “bu” notes, which increase in volume and accelerate towards end, lasting c. 2–3 seconds, and perhaps used in response to rival (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes calls  in flight (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ), when also utters deep “squeeek”, like rubbing a balloon (7 Wrånes, R. E. (1998). Hume’s Tawny Owl. Sandgrouse 20(2):105. Close ).

Mainly Mar–Aug; egg-laying in Arabia is probably between early Feb and late Apr (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) and season starts in Feb in Egypt (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ). Nest in cavity or cave in wall of steep gorge; one such nest was 2 m long, with a 75 cm opening and ended in a 20 cm-long sandy scrape (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ). Probably uses same nest-site for many years (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ). Up to five white (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) eggs; incubation 34–39 days, by female, but confirmed record of both parents incubating perhaps merely involved male covering eggs briefly to relieve female (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); chick with white down; fledging period 30–40 days.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Israeli population tentatively estimated at 200 pairs in late 1980s and perhaps c. 3000 pairs on Arabian Peninsula, of which more than half in Saudi Arabia, 900 pairs in Yemen and 300 pairs in Oman (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ); no numerical data from elsewhere. Originally thought to be fairly rare, this based primarily on fact that until middle of 20th century almost all information on this species was gleaned solely from the type specimen of what is now known to be a separate species (S. butleri), collected in Pakistan in 1878, and present species was practically unknown in Arabia prior to 1975 (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Between 1950s and 1970s, more extensive studies carried out in Middle East, and as a result now considered relatively common in Israel. Presence in E Egypt known solely from 1982 record, until 1997–2000 surveys that revealed species’ presence at nine localities scattered along the entire length of the country’s Red Sea coast (8 Baha el Din, S. and Baha el Din, M. (2001). Status and distribution of Hume’s (Tawny) Owl Strix butleri in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Bulletin of African Bird Club 8(1):18–20. Close ), with additional records in 2010 (9 Clouet, M. (2011). Sur l’avifaune des massifs du désert oriental égyptien. Alauda 79(3):237–240. Close ) and in 2017 the species was found in four wadis in the Eastern Desert, with two pairs each in two of these wadis; however, another wadi and eight sites in S Sinai were searched unsuccessfully (5 Habib, M. I., M. Megally, M., and T. Pröhl (2018). Breeding behaviour of Desert Owl in Egypt. Dutch Birding 40(2):82–89. Close ). Fragmented distribution possibly misleading; terrain difficult to census; might even occur farther S into Horn of Africa (8 Baha el Din, S. and Baha el Din, M. (2001). Status and distribution of Hume’s (Tawny) Owl Strix butleri in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Bulletin of African Bird Club 8(1):18–20. Close ). Occurrence on Socotra deeply unclear (4 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) (although both recent and old aural-only records). Sometimes mentioned for Lebanon and Syria (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but no confirmed records from either country (10 Murdoch, D. A., and K. F. Betton (2008). A Checklist of the Birds of Syria. Sandgrouse Supplement 2. Ornithological Society of the Middle East, Sandy, UK. Close ), with, for example, only S. aluco present in the first-named country (11 Ramadan-Jaradi, G., T. Bara, and M. Ramadan-Jaradi (2008). Revised checklist of the birds of Lebanon 1999-2007. Sandgrouse 30(1):22–69. Close ). Main cause of mortality, at least in Israel, appears to be road traffic. May compete for food with Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba), Athene noctua, S. aluco and Bubo bubo ascalaphus, with the latter also a potential predator (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second Edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).