African Wildlife & Environment Issue 81

BIRDING

SOUTHERNWHITE-FACED OWL

Owls in the Strigidae family all have facial discs which function as 'satellite dishes', amplifying and channelling sound directly to their ears. This enables them to hear the slightest sound of potential prey The Southern White-faced Owl is 22–28 cm long and weighs 185 - 220 grams. The upper parts are grey with dark streaks and there are white spots on the scapular feathers. The underparts are whitish with dark streaks. The face is white with a black border and black around the large orange eyes. The head has two short 'ear' tufts with black tips. Juvenile birds have a greyish face. The Northern White-faced Owl is usually paler and browner with reduced streaking below.

JohnWesson Photographs: Albert Froneman

The Southern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis granti is native to the southern half of Africa. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Northern White-faced Owl P. leucopsis but the two are now commonly treated as separate species. These nocturnal owls are very well known for their ability to 'transform' their shape.

54 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 81 (2022)