Spotted Wood Owl

Spotted Wood Owl

Flaying Animal | Spotted Wood Owl | In the past, names Strix orientalis and Strix pagodorum have been used for this species, but both considered invalid. Race wiepkeni previously referred to by the synonym Surnia whiteheadi. Three subspecies recognized. The Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo) is an owl of the earless owl genus, Strix. Its range is strangely disjunct; it occurs in many regions surrounding Borneo, but not on that island it self.

Genus

Members of the genus Strix are the wood owls. They are medium to large owls, having a large, rounded head and no ear-tufts. The comparatively large eyes range from yellow through to dark brown. Colouring is generally designed fro camouflage in woodland, and a number of the member of this genus have colour phases. There are 20 species scattered practically throughout the globe with the exception of Australasia, the South Pacific and Madagascar, where the genus Ninox takes its place. There being no clear generic differences between Strix and Ciccaba genera, and DNA evidence suggesting very close relationships, many authorities now merge the latter into the former.

Spotted Wood Owl

Spotted Wood Owl

Spotted Wood Owl

Scientific classification
Kingdom   Animalia
Phylum     Chordata
Class        Aves
Order       Strigiformes
Family      Strigidae
Genus      Strix
Species    S. seloputo

Binomial name
Strix seloputo

Spotted Wood Owl

Spotted Wood Owl

Physical charateristics
The Spotted Wood-owl has no ear-tufts, white spotting on its upperparts and heavy dark barring on its underparts. Its facial disc is plain, pale rufous.

Spotted Wood Owl