Long-whiskered Owlet
Encyclopedia
The Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) is a tiny owl
that is endemic
to a small area in the Andean mountains in Amazonas
and San Martín
in northern Peru
. It is restricted to cloud forests with dense undergrowth and epiphyte
s at about 1890–2200 meters (6200–7220 ft) above sea level.
The Long-whiskered Owlet is mainly brown with a whitish belly and eyebrow. The large eyes are orange-brown. Although it has no ear tufts, this small owl's facial feathers extend out past its head, making it appear to have long tufts. The name of its monotypic
genus
Xenoglaux means "strange owl" and – among others – refers to these long facial feathers. With a total length of 13–14 cm (5-5½ in) and a weight of about 48 grams (1.7 oz), it is among the smallest owls in the world
. Only the heavier Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl and the lighter-weight Elf Owl
are of a similar diminutive length. It probably feeds on insects.
Very little is known about this species
. It has been captured in mist net
s on three separate occasions. It had never been observed under "normal" circumstances until early 2007 when rangers and researchers working in the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva encountered it three times during daylight hours and recorded its calls during the night (American Bird Conservancy
, 2007). In addition to later records from the same general area, the Long-whiskered Owlet has been observed several times at La Esperanza in the Amazonas Department, where first discovered in January 2010. This locality also holds the Critically Endangered Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
.
Due to its rarity, restricted habitat, and ongoing deforestation
within its tiny range, it is currently considered endangered by BirdLife International
. It is estimated that the total population is between 250 and 1000 individuals. The recently established Area de Conservación Privada Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva protects an important site for the owlet and other species restricted to this region, including Johnson's Tody-Tyrant, Royal Sunangel
, and Ochre-fronted Antpitta
.
In La Esperanza, the creation of a community run conservation area, supported by community based tourism is intended to ensure the survival of this and other endemic species.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
that is endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to a small area in the Andean mountains in Amazonas
Amazonas Region
Amazonas is a department of northern Peru bordered by Ecuador on the north and west, Cajamarca Department on the west, La Libertad Department on the south, and Loreto Department and San Martín Department on the east. Its capital is the city of Chachapoyas....
and San Martín
San Martín Region
San Martín is a region in northern Peru. Most of the region is located in the upper part of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Its capital is Moyobamba and the largest city in the region is Tarapoto.-Boundaries:* North and East: Loreto Region...
in northern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. It is restricted to cloud forests with dense undergrowth and epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s at about 1890–2200 meters (6200–7220 ft) above sea level.
The Long-whiskered Owlet is mainly brown with a whitish belly and eyebrow. The large eyes are orange-brown. Although it has no ear tufts, this small owl's facial feathers extend out past its head, making it appear to have long tufts. The name of its monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Xenoglaux means "strange owl" and – among others – refers to these long facial feathers. With a total length of 13–14 cm (5-5½ in) and a weight of about 48 grams (1.7 oz), it is among the smallest owls in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
. Only the heavier Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl and the lighter-weight Elf Owl
Elf Owl
The Elf Owl is a member of the owl family Strigidae that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the Long-whiskered Owlet and the Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is 40 grams...
are of a similar diminutive length. It probably feeds on insects.
Very little is known about this species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. It has been captured in mist net
Mist net
Mist nets are used by ornithologists and bat biologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. Mist nets are typically made of nylon mesh suspended between two poles, resembling an oversized volleyball net. When properly deployed, the nets are virtually invisible...
s on three separate occasions. It had never been observed under "normal" circumstances until early 2007 when rangers and researchers working in the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva encountered it three times during daylight hours and recorded its calls during the night (American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is a non-profit membership organization with the mission of conserving native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas...
, 2007). In addition to later records from the same general area, the Long-whiskered Owlet has been observed several times at La Esperanza in the Amazonas Department, where first discovered in January 2010. This locality also holds the Critically Endangered Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
The yellow-tailed woolly monkey is a New World monkey endemic to Peru. It is a rare primate species found only in the Peruvian Andes, in the departments of Amazonas and San Martin as well as bordering areas of La Libertad, Huanuco and Loreto...
.
Due to its rarity, restricted habitat, and ongoing deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
within its tiny range, it is currently considered endangered by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
. It is estimated that the total population is between 250 and 1000 individuals. The recently established Area de Conservación Privada Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva protects an important site for the owlet and other species restricted to this region, including Johnson's Tody-Tyrant, Royal Sunangel
Royal Sunangel
The Royal Sunangel is a species of hummingbird. It is endemic to subtropical elfin forests and shrubs in the Andes of northern Peru and adjacent south-eastern Ecuador. It is endangered due to habitat loss...
, and Ochre-fronted Antpitta
Ochre-fronted Antpitta
The Ochre-fronted Antpitta is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
.
In La Esperanza, the creation of a community run conservation area, supported by community based tourism is intended to ensure the survival of this and other endemic species.
External links
- Sound recordings of the voice of the Long-whiskered Owlet. xeno-canto.org