Bay owl | |
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Oriental bay owl | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Strigiformes |
Family: | Tytonidae |
Genus: |
Phodilus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I, 1830 |
Species | |
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Synonyms | |
|
The bay owls (Phodilus) are a genus of Old World barn-owls. The defining characteristics of bay owls are their smaller bodies, in comparison to other barn owls, and their U- or V-shaped faces. [1] These owls can be found in South to Southeast Asia within forest and grassland ecosystems. [1]
The genus Phodilus was erected by the French zoologist Boho Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1830. [2] Some taxonomists place two species in the genus, while others include three. [3] The name is from the Ancient Greek phōs for "light" or "daylight" and deilos for "timid" or "cowardly". [4] Most classification schemes recognize three extant species in this genus: [5]
Image | Scientific Name | Common name | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Phodilus badius | Oriental bay owl | Philippines, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei | |
Phodilus assimilis | Sri Lanka bay owl | Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats in Kerala, southwestern India |
The Itombwe owl (T. prigoginei) was formerly classified in this genus as the Congo bay owl, but morphological evidence suggests that it is a member of the genus Tyto. [6] [7]
Although bay owls are typically smaller, they bear resemblances to other barn owls. [1] Other characteristics of the bay owl are groupings of feathers that resemble ears, and a divided face disk. [1] Bay owls have also been attributed with U-or V-shaped faces. [1] [3] Their wings are rounded and their tail is chestnut-colored, with a few narrow, dark bars. [8] Their tarsi, or leg/foot bones, are relatively short and fully feathered to the joint. [3] Their toes are yellowish-brown with pale claws. [3] Their throat has a creamy color and their underparts are often a pale yellowish-brown, with speckles of blackish-brown coloring. [3]
The bay owl can be found in regions from India to Southeast Asia and Indonesia. [1] It is uncertain where the ancestors of these avians lived as the phylogeny of all species of bay owls has not been analyzed. [9] These owls can be found in both forests and grasslands, but are fairly scattered in their distribution. [9] However, their primary habitat is within dense evergreen forests, where the owls may roost during the day in the opening of tree trunks or branches sheltered by palm tree leaves. [1] They are often found roosting no more than 2 meters off the ground. [1] They are most vulnerable in this state and not very alert. [1]
Bay owl | |
---|---|
Oriental bay owl | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Strigiformes |
Family: | Tytonidae |
Genus: |
Phodilus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I, 1830 |
Species | |
| |
Synonyms | |
|
The bay owls (Phodilus) are a genus of Old World barn-owls. The defining characteristics of bay owls are their smaller bodies, in comparison to other barn owls, and their U- or V-shaped faces. [1] These owls can be found in South to Southeast Asia within forest and grassland ecosystems. [1]
The genus Phodilus was erected by the French zoologist Boho Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1830. [2] Some taxonomists place two species in the genus, while others include three. [3] The name is from the Ancient Greek phōs for "light" or "daylight" and deilos for "timid" or "cowardly". [4] Most classification schemes recognize three extant species in this genus: [5]
Image | Scientific Name | Common name | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Phodilus badius | Oriental bay owl | Philippines, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei | |
Phodilus assimilis | Sri Lanka bay owl | Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats in Kerala, southwestern India |
The Itombwe owl (T. prigoginei) was formerly classified in this genus as the Congo bay owl, but morphological evidence suggests that it is a member of the genus Tyto. [6] [7]
Although bay owls are typically smaller, they bear resemblances to other barn owls. [1] Other characteristics of the bay owl are groupings of feathers that resemble ears, and a divided face disk. [1] Bay owls have also been attributed with U-or V-shaped faces. [1] [3] Their wings are rounded and their tail is chestnut-colored, with a few narrow, dark bars. [8] Their tarsi, or leg/foot bones, are relatively short and fully feathered to the joint. [3] Their toes are yellowish-brown with pale claws. [3] Their throat has a creamy color and their underparts are often a pale yellowish-brown, with speckles of blackish-brown coloring. [3]
The bay owl can be found in regions from India to Southeast Asia and Indonesia. [1] It is uncertain where the ancestors of these avians lived as the phylogeny of all species of bay owls has not been analyzed. [9] These owls can be found in both forests and grasslands, but are fairly scattered in their distribution. [9] However, their primary habitat is within dense evergreen forests, where the owls may roost during the day in the opening of tree trunks or branches sheltered by palm tree leaves. [1] They are often found roosting no more than 2 meters off the ground. [1] They are most vulnerable in this state and not very alert. [1]