Cebu hawk-owl

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Cebu hawk-owl
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Ninox
Species:
N. rumseyi
Binomial name
Ninox rumseyi
Rasmussen et al., 2012

The Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) or Cebu boobook, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other data suggested placement as a distinct species.[3]

Description and Taxonomy[]

EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized owl of wooded areas on the island of Cebu. Head and upperparts dark brown and indistinctly barred. Underparts orange-brown. Shows some white speckling in the wing, a pale bar behind the shoulder, bright yellow eyes, and white eyebrows forming an arching V-shape. Note the large white throat patch. Unmistakable. No other owls occur in its range. Song is a distinctive “wip! Doo-wip! Doh” with the middle notes falling then rising, and the final note falling. Also gives single “wip” notes and rasps.."[4]

The Cebu hawk-owl is an earless species. Males and females are similar in appearance. It nests natural cavities in older, larger trees

It and along with the Camiguin hawk-owl and Romblon hawk-owl are the largest in the Philippine hawk-owl species complex reaching sizes of 25cm tall versus the much smaller Luzon hawk-owl, Mindanao hawk-owl, Mindoro hawk-owl and Sulu hawk-owl which sizes range from 15-20cm tall. [5]

Habitat and Conservation Status[]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland primary forest and secondary forests up to an altitude of 700 metres above sea level. It is also seen in clearings and plantations as long as there is nearby forest [5]

The IUCN Red List classifies this bird as an endangered species with population estimates of 250 to 999 mature individuals with the belief that its population is on the lower estimate of that range. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining and conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and urbanization. Cebu underwent severe deforestation in 1890s and now just 0.03% or 15 km2 forest cover remains.Up until today, the forests of Cebu still receives hunting pressure and deforestation - further reducing what little there is remaining.

This has led to many other species sharing its range to also be endangered. It also shares a habitat with the Cebu flowerpecker which is one of the most endangered birds in the world and other endangered species such as the Black shama and Streak-breasted bulbul,. This has led to many extinctions of species such as Cebu warty pig and possibly the Cebu amethyst brown dove and subspecies extinctions of Philippine oriole,Blackish cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied cuckooshrike and Philippine hanging parrot and more.

Occurs in the protected areas in Alcoy, Argao, Dalaguete,Tabunan and Boljoon protected forests but like all places in the country protection is lax.

There are no species specific conservation programs going on at the moment.

References[]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Ninox rumseyi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2017: e.T22725505A110287090. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22725505A110287090.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ New Owl Species: Camiguin Hawk-Owl, Cebu Hawk-Owl Discovered In Philippines
  4. ^ "Cebu Hawk-owl". Ebird. Archived from the original on 2020-04-01.
  5. ^ a b Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Guides. pp. 172–177.
  • Kennedy, R.S., Gonzales P.C., Dickinson E.C., Miranda, Jr, H.C., Fisher T.H. (2000) A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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