Fun Cebu Hawk-owl Facts For Kids
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An earless species of the Strigiformes order and Strigidae family, the Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) is endemic to the islands of Cebu, Philippines. Before 2012, the species was considered as a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl (Ninox philippensis), but due to the voice and other physical differences, it was reclassified as a new species.
The bird species is also known as the Cebu boobook.
Due to the lack of information, very little is known about the physical appearance of this species. The feathers are generally black and have multiple yellow or white spots.
The chest and belly areas are olive-green in color. The species also possesses a sharp yellow-colored bill. Unlike other birds of the Ninox genus, male and female Cebu hawk-owls are very similar.
These birds generally dwell in hollow trees in tropical and subtropical forest or tropical and subtropical moist montane forest. Also, the species can be found in forest areas up to an elevation of 5906 ft (1800 m). This species feed on rats, insects, and snakes.
The IUCN listed the species as Endangered. Threats such as loss of habitat, hunting, and predation majorly affect the species. If the rate of deforestation increases, the species could become Extinct within a few years.
Keep on reading to learn more interesting facts about the Cebu hawk-owl. If you want to know more exciting information about different animals, check out red-backed shrike and griffon vulture.
Cebu Hawk-Owl Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Cebu hawk-owl?
The Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) is an endemic species to the island of Cebu, Philippines. Before 2012, the species was considered a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl (Ninox philippensis). However, it was reclassified as a new species. The bird species is also known as the Cebu boobook.
What class of animal does a Cebu hawk-owl belong to?
The Cebu hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi) belongs to the class of Aves, the family of Strigidae, and the Ninox genus. Species such as the Philippine hawk-owl and rufous owl also belong to the Ninox genus.
How many Cebu hawk-owls are there in the world?
There are only around 250-999 individuals living on the island of Cebu. Also, this species is currently considered Endangered by the IUCN, but the species could become Extinct in the coming years.
Where does a Cebu hawk-owl live?
When it comes to the Cebu hawk-owl range, the bird is endemic to the forests of Cebu, Philippines.
What is a Cebu hawk-owl's habitat?
While talking about the Cebu hawk-owl habitat, these Philippines birds generally dwell in hollow trees of the tropical and subtropical forest or tropical and subtropical moist montane forest. Also, the species can be found in forest areas up to an elevation of 5906 ft (1800 m).
Who do Cebu hawk-owls live with?
Like other owl birds, these birds are solitary and prefer to live alone. Owls are nocturnal and generally remain active during the night. Cebu hawk-owls come together during the breeding season.
How long does a Cebu Hawk-Owl live?
Information regarding the lifespan of Cebu hawk-owls is not known as of now. Owls generally live for around 25 years, while it is said that larger owls generally live longer than smaller owls.
How do they reproduce?
Very little information regarding the reproduction patterns of this new species is known, but the breeding season of these Philippines birds generally occurs in the month of February. Like other owls of the Strigidae family, the Cebu hawk-owl bird uses several courtship displays to attract mates.
Owls are generally monogamous and the mates remain the same for several years. The Cebu hawk-owl male uses different calls and displays preyed animals to attract the female.
Once the Cebu hawk-owl female accepts the food, the mating takes place.
The litter size and incubation period are not known, but these owls generally nest in hollow trees. The primary duty of males is to provide food to the females during the breeding season, but they also help the females in brooding.
What is their conservation status?
The IUCN listed the species as Endangered. Threats such as loss of habitat, hunting, and predation significantly affect the species. If the rate of deforestation increases, the species could become Extinct in the next few years.
Cebu Hawk-Owl Fun Facts
What do Cebu hawk-owls look like?
Due to the lack of information, very little is known about the physical appearance of the species. The feathers are generally black and have multiple yellow or white spots. The chest and belly areas are olive-green in color, and the species also possesses a sharp yellow-colored bill.
* Please note that this is an image of a northern hawk-owl, not a Cebu hawk-owl. If you have an image of a Cebu hawk-owl, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.How cute are they?
Cebu hawk-owl birds are quite scary, unlike other birds of the Cebu Island. This endemic species is earless which makes it more fascinating. One would love to see the courtship displays of these birds during the breeding season.
How do they communicate?
Like other birds, the Cebu hawk-owl uses similar methods to communicate. It was a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl but due to a difference in the voice, it was reclassified as a new species in 2012. These Philippines birds use several calls and perform different courtship displays during the breeding season.
How big is a Cebu hawk-owl?
Due to the lack of information, no information regarding the Cebu hawk-owl size but a different species of the Strigidae family endemic to the Philippines, the Philippine hawk-owl, has an average length of 8-10 in (21-26.5 cm).
With the available information, it can be said that the Cebu hawk-owl wingspan would be close to around 65- 8 in (16.5-20.5 cm).
Some of these birds are bigger than the great grey owl and the red owl.
How fast can a Cebu hawk-owl fly?
The exact speed of Cebu hawk-owls is not known, but the species is known for its predatory skills. Some of the species could fly at a speed close to around 40 mph (65 kph). These birds can also see their prey from a long distance quite easily.
How much does a Cebu hawk-owl weigh?
The exact weight of a Cebu hawk-owl bird is not known as of now.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names given to male and female Cebu hawk-owls as well as Philippines owls.
What would you call a baby Cebu hawk-owl?
The term chick is often used to refer to a baby of Cebu hawk-owl.
What do they eat?
These endemic birds are carnivores and generally prey on mice, grasshoppers, and snakes. This species is one of the predatory birds of the Cebu island.
Are they dangerous?
These birds can be dangerous to humans.
Would they make a good pet?
No, it is not allowed to keep them as pets.
Did you know...
Sulu hawk-owl is one of the biggest subspecies of Philippine hawk-owls. The species is listed as Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The Cebu hawk-owl does not migrate. Since they are endemic to Cebu, they came to be known as Cebu hawk-owls.
Are Cebu hawk-owls Endangered?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the species as Endangered. Threats such as loss of habitat, hunting, and predation majorly affect the species. If the rate of deforestation increases, the species could become Extinct in the near future.
How do you identify a Cebu hawk-owl?
The feathers are generally black and have multiple yellow or white spots. The chest and belly areas are olive-green in color, and the species also possesses a sharp yellow-colored bill. The species is one of the most attractive birds of the Philippines. These birds are earless and this is the most unique part about them.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our burrowing owl facts and Hawaiian hawk facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Cebu hawk owl coloring pages.
* Please note that this is an image of a northern hawk-owl, not a Cebu hawk-owl. If you have an image of a Cebu hawk-owl, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
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