Rufous Fishing Owl
Rufous Fishing Owl (Bubo ussheri )
The Rufous Fishing Owl (Bubo ussheri, and in older literature also Scotopelia ussheri ). is a species of the family of real owls. It is found only in Africa. Previously, the species was placed in the genus Scotopelia. This genus is now regarded as a sub-species of owls. The Rufous Fishing Owl is considered rare and as a species that is particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction.
Features
With a body size of 46-51 centimeters, the Rufous Fishing Owl is one more likely to be large Uhuarten. As belonging also to the two species in the subgenus Scotopelia Marmorfischeule and Ge Pel 's Fishing characteristic, it lacks the ear tufts that characterize most of the Uhuarten. The back of the Rufous Fishing Owl is solid red. The eyes are ocher to dark brown.
Possible confusion exist in the distribution area with the Ge Pel 's Fishing and Marmorfischeule. The total Pel 's Fishing is larger and has on the body top spots and stripes. The Marmorfischeule is as large as the Rufous Fishing Owl, but other than those on the body top finely speckled.
Distribution and habitat
The range of the Rufous Fishing Owl is small and confined to West Africa, where the species in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana found. The distribution area overlaps it partially with that of the Ge Pel 's Fishing.
The Rufous Fishing Owl is a sedentary bird that inhabits forests mainly along large rivers and lakes. The species prefers primary forest, also settled, secondary forest plantations and mangroves on the coast.
Way of life
The lifestyle of the Rufous Fishing Owl is only partially explored. She probably is very similar to the way of life of Ge Pel 's Fishing. The food range includes probably mainly fish. In Sierra Leone, the eggs are laid in September and October. Probably just a young bird per clutch is raised.