Rufous Fishing-Owl Scotopelia ussheri Scientific name definitions

46–51 cm; male 743 g, female 834 g (n = 1 for each sex) (1 König, C., F. Weick, and J.-H. Becking (2008). Owls of the World. Second edition. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Head tawny, with indistinct facial disc and no ear tufts; upperparts  dark rufous and unbarred (aside from flight feathers), with creamy-buff and whitish markings on scapulars and mantle (2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ); face and underparts light cinnamon  , with narrow rufous streaks on breast; remiges and rectrices tawny-rufous with narrow dark bars; tarsus and toes unfeathered; eyes large, contrasting strongly with pale face (3 Borrow, N. and R. Demey (2010). Birds of Ghana. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); irides dark brown (sometimes erroneously stated to be yellow); bill bluish-grey (2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ); cere, legs and feet yellowish (2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ). Differs from S. peli in much smaller size, unbarred upperparts and lack of chevron pattern below; differs from narrowly sympatric and similarly sized S. bouvieri in lacking vermiculations on upperparts and being less heavily streaked on underparts. Juvenile  similar to but slightly paler than adult, probably attains adult plumage c. 6 months after fledging.

Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana; possibly also Guinea.

Endemic to Upper Guinea Forest. River and lagoon edges in lowland forest, mainly primary but also secondary forest and degraded habitat, and sometimes plantations and near villages (2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ); also recorded in coastal mangroves. Evidence that present species prefers smaller streams than those favoured by S. peli (4 Klop, E., J. A. Lindsell, and A. M. Siaka (2010). The birds of Gola Forest and Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone. Malimbus 32(1):33–58. Close , 2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ).

Little known; catfish found in 1 stomach. Presumably hunts mostly at night, but occasionally active during day (photographed at mid-day on perch above stream and on ground at stream edge (5 Conway, A., Hernandez, S. and Carroll, J.P. (2010). Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri camera-trapped at midday near Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 17(1): 90-91. Close ) ).

Deep, dove-like “ooo”  , repeated at 1-minute intervals. Call similar to that of White-crested Tiger-heron (Tigriornis leucolopha) and indeed has been confused with it in the wild (6 Atkinson, P.W., Koroma, A.P., Ranft, R., Rowe, S.G. and Wilkinson, R. (1994). The status, identification and vocalisations of African fishing owls with particular reference to the Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 1(2): 67-72. Close ). In one study in Ivory Coast, response to playback best during a full moon in the rainy season (7 Ahon, D.B. and Rondeau, G. (2008). [Distribution, conservation status and sensitivity to playback of the Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in the coastal forest zone of Ivory Coast]. Malimbus. 30(2): 134-144. In French with English summary. Close ).

Very little known. Nestlings collected in Sierra Leone suggest only 1 young raised from egg laid Sept–Oct; in Liberia, juvenile still with downy plumage in Mar, immature with mostly adult plumage in Jul; in Sierra Leone, immature roosting with adult in mid-Feb (2 Monticelli, D., Koroma, A.P. and Bannah, D. (2015). Observations of Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri in Sierra Leone. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 22(2): 183–189. Close ). Biology probably similar to that of S. peli.

VULNERABLE. Formerly listed as Endangered but now known to be more widespread than previously thought. CITES II. Restricted-range species: present in Upper Guinea Forests EBA. Only 17–20 records from 1870 to 1983; BirdLife International places rough global population estimate at 2500–10,000 individuals. Reported as fairly common in Sierra Leone (Loma Mts) in 1992; thought not uncommon in Liberia in 1990s; very few records from Ivory Coast (perhaps owing to confusion over voice); only c. 5 records from Ghana; and single record from Guinea. Small number of observations suggests that species is rare, although it may be overlooked because of its elusive nature. Main threats are clearance of mangrove and forest, and river pollution; iron-ore mining has caused severe pollution to R Mano between Sierra Leone and Liberia, and R Yah in Liberia; in addition, young are captured and kept as pets by local inhabitants, and some bird are caught and eaten (8 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2008). Selected notes on birds of Gola Forest and surroundings, Sierra Leone, including three new species for the country. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 15:215–227. Close ). Occurs in a few protected areas through its range, including Gola Forest Reserve (Sierra Leone), Sapo National Park (Liberia) and Tai Forest National Park (Ivory Coast). Survey and monitoring of existing population required.