Search Help

Typical Owls (Strigidae)

Moluccan Hawk-owl (Ninox squamipila) - HBW 5, p. 235

French: Ninoxe des Moluques German: Molokkenkauz Spanish: Nínox Moluqueño
Other common names: Moluccan Boobook

Taxonomy: Athene squamipila Bonaparte, 1850, Ceram.
Relationships unclear. Proposed treatment as member of species-group that includes N. boobook, N. novaeseelandiae, N. theomacha, N. meeki, N. variegata and perhaps other boobooks in Australasian Region, or possibly with just last 3 of above-named species; more research needed. Formerly included N. natalis as race, but latter now afforded full species status based on plumage details and molecular evidence. Races are morphologically quite distinct, and there is some preliminary evidence that vocalizations also differ; more than one species may be involv.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Athene squamipila Bonaparte, 1850, Ceram.
Relationships unclear. Proposed treatment as member of species-group that includes N. boobook, N. novaeseelandiae, N. theomacha, N. meeki, N. variegata and perhaps other boobooks in Australasian Region, or possibly with just last 3 of above-named species; more research needed. Formerly included N. natalis as race, but latter now afforded full species status based on plumage details and molecular evidence. Races are morphologically quite distinct, and there is some preliminary evidence that vocalizations also differ; more than one species may be involved. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • hypogramma (G. R. Gray, 1860) - Halmahera, Ternate and Bacan group.
  • hantu (Wallace, 1863) - Buru.
  • squamipila (Bonaparte, 1850) - Seram.
  • forbesi P. L. Slater, 1883 - Tanimbar Is.

Photos

2 photos
About us | Contact us | FAQ | Permalink