Philippine Eagle Owl
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Eagle-Owl (Bubo philippensis) is an vulnerable species
of bird
belonging to the Strigidae family
. It is endemic to the Philippines
, where found in lowland forests on the islands of Catanduanes
, Samar, Bohol, Mindanao
, Luzon
, Leyte and possibly Sibuyan. It is known locally as the “kuwago” or “bukao”.
:
in the Philippines, but among the smallest members of the genus
Bubo
. It is overall rufous with a lighter belly and yellow eyes.
s and bird
s.
This eagle-owl lays one egg per clutch and has an incubation period of 35 days.
was the first conservation center in the world to successfully hatch a Philippine Eagle-Owl (aptly nicknamed Bubo) in captivity and it has the only breeding pair of these owls in captivity anywhere in the world.
On November 21, 2005, conservationists at the center made world history when it successfully bred in captivity a Philippine Eagle-Owl. Notably NFEFI had first secured the first-ever captive breeding loan between DENR-accredited institutions in the Philippines, consisting of three pairs of eagle-owls from the Avilon Montalban Zoological Park in Montalban, Rizal
and transported them to Bacolod City
in December 2002. Two pairs showed attraction, and the couple “Hinahon” and “Suplada,” -- local term for “calm” and “snob” -- made courtship. It was on November 21, 2005, that an owlet was discovered in the nest, about three days old, and named “Bubo.” As Bubo grew, Suplada taught it how to tear pieces of mouse meat, thus rearing it.
In 2006, Suplada also laid one egg and another owlet was hatched through the aid of the World Owl Trust, Flora and Fauna International-Philippine Biodiversity Conservation program and the Avilon Zoological Park in Montalban Rizal.
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
belonging to the Strigidae family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
. It is endemic to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where found in lowland forests on the islands of Catanduanes
Catanduanes
Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.-Etymology:"Isla de Cobos" was Catanduanes' first...
, Samar, Bohol, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Leyte and possibly Sibuyan. It is known locally as the “kuwago” or “bukao”.
Taxonomy
There are two subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
:
- Bubo philippensis philippensis - Luzon and Catanduanes
- Bubo philippensis mindanensis - Mindanao, Leyte, Samar and Bohol. Darker and more heavily streaked than the nominate.
Description
With a total length of 40–50 cm (16–20 in) and a wing-length of about 35 cm (14 in), it is the largest owlOwl
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...
in the Philippines, but among the smallest members of the 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...
Bubo
Horned owl
The American horned owls and the Old World eagle-owls make up the genus Bubo, at least as traditionally described. This genus, depending on definition, contains about one or two dozen species of typical owls and is found in many parts of the world. Some of the largest living Strigiformes are in...
. It is overall rufous with a lighter belly and yellow eyes.
Habitat
This owl inhabits forest edges near streams. They rest in a tree the day and hunts at dusk to feed on small vertebrates. The Philippine Eagle-Owl is the largest in the country.Behavior
Little is known about the behavior of this secretive species, but the powerful feet suggest it feeds on small mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s and bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s.
This eagle-owl lays one egg per clutch and has an incubation period of 35 days.
Breeding in captivity
In December 2005, Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation (NFEFI) in Bacolod CityBacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
was the first conservation center in the world to successfully hatch a Philippine Eagle-Owl (aptly nicknamed Bubo) in captivity and it has the only breeding pair of these owls in captivity anywhere in the world.
On November 21, 2005, conservationists at the center made world history when it successfully bred in captivity a Philippine Eagle-Owl. Notably NFEFI had first secured the first-ever captive breeding loan between DENR-accredited institutions in the Philippines, consisting of three pairs of eagle-owls from the Avilon Montalban Zoological Park in Montalban, Rizal
Rizal
Rizal is a province located in the CALABARZON , just 16 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal Governor Casimiro A. Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building,...
and transported them to Bacolod City
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
in December 2002. Two pairs showed attraction, and the couple “Hinahon” and “Suplada,” -- local term for “calm” and “snob” -- made courtship. It was on November 21, 2005, that an owlet was discovered in the nest, about three days old, and named “Bubo.” As Bubo grew, Suplada taught it how to tear pieces of mouse meat, thus rearing it.
In 2006, Suplada also laid one egg and another owlet was hatched through the aid of the World Owl Trust, Flora and Fauna International-Philippine Biodiversity Conservation program and the Avilon Zoological Park in Montalban Rizal.