9 Rarest Species of Owl
Owls are mysterious animals that are rarely spotted by humans. Throughout history, these nocturnal birds have been the subject of myths and legends. There are about 250 owl species around the world, that are divided into two families. The barn-owl family, scientifically known as Tytonidae, includes 16 species of owls with heart-shaped facial disks. The remaining owl species belong to the typical-owl family, Strigidae.
Unfortunately, four species of typical-owl family are extinct, and six are critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The major threats to their survival are climate change, habitat fragmentation, and poaching.
In this article, we will discuss the nine rarest owl species that still exist in the world.
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| Photo source: ebird |
1.The Karthala Scops Owl
Initially believed to be a subspecies of the Madagascar Scops Owl, further studies have confirmed that the Karthala Scops Owl is a distinct species. This owl species exhibits two distinct color morphs, with lighter morphs being greyish-brown and darker ones being dark chocolate-brown.
This Owls have tube-shaped eyes that are immobile, providing them with binocular vision.
2. Blakiston' Fish Owl
Blakiston’s Fish Owl, which is also known as Blakiston’s Eagle Owl, is the largest living owl species in the world. These mature birds can measure 24 to 28 inches in total length and weigh between 6.5 to 10.1 pounds.
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| Photo source: wikipedia |
This large owl has a tawny brown facial disk with narrow black stripes, yellow eyes, and white eyebrows. Its body is darker brown with black stripes, and the underparts are pale brown with darker stripes and light brown wavy cross bars.
The Blakiston’s Fish Owl faces significant threats due to land development, dam construction, and loss of riverine forests, which serve as its habitat.
Despite its classification as a fish owl, the Blakiston’s Fish Owl has more structural similarities with eagle owls than fish owls.
3. The Sula Barn Owl
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| Photo source: ebird |
The Sula Barn Owl, also recognized as the Taliabu Masked Owl, is a barn owl species that originates from Sula Island, Maluku, Indonesia. Knowledge about this species is limited to a single specimen gathered in 1938, making it challenging to obtain information about it. Nevertheless, it seems to be familiar to the nearby residents, even though there are only a few confirmed sightings.
The Sula Barn Owl's face is light reddish-brown and becomes darker around the eyes. The underparts are brown with white speckles, while the tail has three darker stripes.
The main threats to this species
are logging and wood harvesting. In the past, the Sula Barn Owl was categorized
as endangered, but following a 2012 assessment, it is now classified as
vulnerable.
4. Long whiskered owlet
The Long Whiskered Owlet is a small owl species that can only be found in a limited area of the Andean mountains in Northern Peru.
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| Photo source: ebird |
These owls have brown bodies with whitish bellies and eyebrows. They are characterized by their large orange-brown to amber-orange eyes with blackish-brown eyelids. They also have fan-like whiskers at the sides of their facial disk but lack ear tufts.
The first Long Whiskered Owlet
specimen was captured in 1976 and described by John Patton O’Neill and Gary R.
Graves the following year. However, the bird was not observed for about 30
years until some scientists spotted it three times during the daytime in 2007.
5. The Forest Owlet
The Forest Owlet, also referred to
as the Forest Little Owl, is a small and sturdy owl that is native to the
forested regions in Central India. They have heavily banded wings and tail, and
their crown lacks spots. Their facial disk is pale, and they have yellow eyes.
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| Photo source: wikipedia |
Forest Owlets are known for their
distinct vocalizations, and they produce various calls. Their song calls are
brief and mellow.
In 1873, Allan Octavian Hume, a
British scientist who worked in colonized India, initially described this owl
species. After being sighted only once after 1884, the species was believed to
be extinct for many years until it was rediscovered by American ornithologist
Pamela Rasmussen a century later.
6. The Seredib Scops Owl
The Serendib Scops Owl is a
minuscule owl species that can be found in the southwest region of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda was the first to document this owl
in 2004, making it the initial bird species to be discovered in Sri Lanka since
1868.
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| Photo source: wikipedia |
This diminutive owl lacks a well-defined facial disk and has a reddish-brown coloration, with paler underparts. The bird's entire body is adorned with blackish spots that are surrounded by lighter rings. The Serendib Scops Owl has orange-yellow eyes with black rims.
Fun fact: The Serendib Scops Owl is featured on Sri Lanka's twenty-rupee banknote.
7. Moheli Scops Owl
The Moheli Scops Owl is a small owl
species that is exclusively found on the Island of Moheli, which is part of the
Union of Comoros. Currently, there are only an estimated 260 mature individuals
of this species, which makes them an endangered species.
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The Moheli Scops Owl displays two
distinct color morphs: rufous and dark brown. The rufous morph has
reddish-brown coloration with faint bars and streaks, while the dark brown
morph has bolder, darker brown plumage. Both color morphs have black beaks,
greenish-yellow eyes, and small ear tufts.
Fun fact: The primary threat to Moheli Scops Owls, apart from deforestation, is the presence of black rats. These rats not only eat the eggs and infants of the owls but also compete with them for food.
8.The Pernambuco pygmy owl
The Pernambuco Pygmy Owl is a small owl species that can be found in the Pernambuco state of Brazil. Unfortunately, this owl species is one of the rarest and is considered to be critically endangered, with the possibility of being extinct.
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| Photo source: Artist for conservation |
Mature Pernambuco Pygmy Owls typically measure around 5.1 inches in length. Their face displays brownish and whitish streaks, while the rest of their head is dark brown with white spots. The center of their chest is white, and the sides are yellowish-brown with white spots. The owl's eyes are yellow in color.
The Pernambuco Pygmy Owl is native
to the most altered area of the Atlantic Forest. This area has undergone rapid
deforestation, primarily due to sugarcane farming, leading to habitat loss for
this rare owl species. Moreover, illegal hunting poses another significant
threat to this species that is on the brink of extinction. Sadly, the
Pernambuco Pygmy Owl was last sighted in 2001.
9.Siou Scops Owl
The Siau Scops Owl is a critically
endangered owl species that is endemic to Siau Island, located in the northern
region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. With a population of only 49 individuals or
less, this owl species is considered one of the rarest in the world.
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| Photo source: wikipedia |
Agricultural activities, logging,
and wood harvesting are the primary threats to the survival of this species.
The Siau Scops Owl is small in size, with dark brown coloration and a paler
chest.
The first recorded specimen of the
Siau Scops Owl was collected in 1866, and it was described by German scientist
Hermann Schlegel in 1873. Although recent surveys since 1998 have failed to
spot the bird, some local reports, including videos, suggest that the species
may not be extinct after all. Furthermore, it has been observed that some Asian
scops owls can survive in degraded habitats.
Fun fact: While the International
Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes the Siau Scops Owl as a distinct
species, others consider it to be a subspecies of either Moluccan Scops Owls or
Sulawesi Scops Owls.
