Oriental bay-owl

From Wild India

(Phodilus badius and Phodilus assimilis [Ceylon bay owl])

Ceylon Bay Owl (Phodilus assimilis) by Kalyan Varma

Introduction

This small to medium sized owl is distinctive in its strikingly marked, angular face - a dark V-shaped marking running down the centre of the face, between the eyes, contrasts with the pale chestnut brown colouration. The head is broad and there is no narrowing at the neck. The legs are long and fully feathered. The underside of the body has dark flecks and the back and short, rounded wings are dark chestnut brown, spotted with black and yellow. The ears are slightly tufted.

Species Split

The Oriental Bay Owl has been recently split as two different species - The Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius) and Ceylon Bay Owl (Phodilus assimilis) by Pamela Rasmussen. Oriental Bay Owl (P. badius) is found in Himalauan foothills to S Assam hills. Ceylon bay owl is found in South Western Ghats (kerala) and Sri Lanka.

The Ceylon Bay owl (P.assimilis) is much darker and browner then Oriental Bay Owl (P. badius) with heavy black and white spots on a vermiculated background and heavier bars on wings and talk. But mostly the calls of both the birds are totally different.