Luzon hawk-owl
| Luzon Hawk-owl | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family Information | |
| Families | Strigidae |
| Sub-family | Striginae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Ninox |
| Species Information | |
| Species | N. philippensis |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The Luzon hawk-owl (Ninox philippensis) is a species of owl native to several islands of the Philippines.
Taxonomy
The Luzon hawk-owl consists of three recognized subspecies:
- Ninox philippensis centralis
- Ninox philippensis philippensis
- Ninox philippensis ticaoensis
For a time since 1945, authorities have thought that there was a single species of hawk-owl native to the Philippines: Ninox philippensis. Recent research has concluded that there are seven species of hawk-owl, each with their own distinctive plumage and vocalizations, and separated from each other by the water between the islands. In addition to the Luzon hawk-owl, the owls form what has since been called the "Philippine Hawk owl complex",[2][3] and consist of the following species:
- Camiguin hawk-owl, Ninox spilonotus
- Cebu hawk-owl, Ninox rumseyi
- Mindanao hawk-owl, Ninox spilocephala
- Mindoro hawk-owl, Ninox mindorensis
- Romblon hawk-owl, Ninox spilonotus
- Sulu hawk-owl, Ninox reyi
Habitat and range
The Luzon hawk-owl prefers primary and secondary forest up to nearly 6,000 feet in elevation; it has also been observed at forest clearing edges near human habitation. They are found widely in north and central Philippines, including the islands of Biliran, Bohol, Boracay, Buad, Carabao, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Leyte, Lubang, Luzon, Marinduque, Masbate, Negros, Panay, Polillo Samar, Semirara, Siquijor and Ticao.
