Shelley's Eagle-Owl
Lithography club 's, 1875
The Bindenuhu (Bubo shelleyi ) is a species of the family of authentics owls. It is found only in West and Central Africa and is regarded as an extremely rare Uhuart. The destruction of its habitat is considered to be a factor on the survival of the species effect is particularly strong.
Features
The Bindenuhu is a very large Uhuart and reaches a height 53-61 centimeters. It is dark on the body top with pale stripes. The underside is whitish with dark cross bands. The face veil is whitish with brown concentric lines. The ear tufts are relatively short. The eyes are brown. The legs and toes are feathered. The beak is horn colored pale.
There are only a few possibilities of confusion with other owls. All other species in the area of distribution are much smaller. The Guinea- owl is also brownish and has no feathered toes. The Yellow-footed owl has pale yellow eyes and his toes likewise have no feathers.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Bindenuhus extends over the tropical West and Central Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, and the north-east of the Congo. He is a state bird that inhabited predominantly primary forests in the lowlands, where it occurs more frequently along forest edges and along the rivers.
Way of life
The Bindenuhu is nocturnal and crepuscular. He sits in the dense foliage of trees and selects occasionally resting places that are just barely above the ground. His highly trained claws suggest that his prey spectrum even medium-sized mammals and birds belong. Busy is the catch of a large flying squirrel by a Bindenuhu. A held in captivity Bindenuhu needed 110 grams of meat per day.
Very little is known about the reproductive habits of Bindenuhus. In the Congo, a nestling was found in September and a young bird just fledged in April. In Liberia Bindenuhus can hear her singing both in October and February to April.