Southern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis granti
The Southern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis granti) is a rare owl found in 14 countries, weighing about 214 g. The Southern white-faced owl is a fairly small owl in the family Strigidae.
About the Southern White-faced Owl
The Southern white-faced owl is a fairly small owl in the family Strigidae. It is native to the southern half of Africa. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the northern white-faced owl but the two are now commonly treated as separate species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is 22–28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) long and weighs 185–220 g (6.5–7.8 oz). The upperparts are grey with dark streaks and there are white spots on the scapular feathers. The underparts are whitish with dark streaks. The face is white with a black border and black around the large orange eyes. The head has two short ear-tufts with black tips. Juvenile birds have a greyish face. The northern white-faced owl is usually paler and browner with reduced streaking below. Their call is a series of fast, bubbling hoots, uttered at night and frequently repeated.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Angola.
When to see it
The Southern White-faced Owl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Southern White-faced Owl?
- It is 22–28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) long and weighs 185–220 g (6.5–7.8 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Southern White-faced Owl?
- The Southern White-faced Owl is a medium sized bird weighing about 214 g.
- Where can you see a Southern White-faced Owl?
- The Southern White-faced Owl occurs in 14 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia.
- What birds look similar to a Southern White-faced Owl?
- The Southern White-faced Owl is most easily confused with the Northern White-faced Owl.
- Is the Southern White-faced Owl endangered?
- The Southern White-faced Owl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Southern White-faced Owl for real
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