Ninox randi
The Chocolate Boobook (*Ninox randi*) is a strikingly distinctive medium-sized owl, measuring 27-33 cm (10.5-13 inches) in length. Its plumage is a rich, deep chocolate brown, often appearing nearly uniform across its body, with subtle rufous undertones on the belly and faint, indistinct barring or streaking. Key field marks include its prominent large, dark brown eyes and a dark facial disc that seamlessly blends into its dark head, sometimes with an elusive paler eyebrow. Its yellowish-gree...
Primarily inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland evergreen forests, as well as forest edges, typically from sea level up to approximately 1,000 meters in elevation.
Feeds predominantly on large nocturnal insects such as beetles and moths, supplemented with small vertebrates including geckos, small birds, and rodents, all captured through perch-hunting and aerial pursuit.
Strictly nocturnal, the Chocolate Boobook becomes active at dusk, spending its days camouflaged and silent within dense foliage, often near a tree trunk. It is a classic 'sit-and-wait' predator, perching quietly to scan for prey before swooping down to snatch insects mid-air or pouncing on small ...
The Chocolate Boobook is endemic to the Philippines archipelago, inhabiting several of the larger islands. Its primary distribution includes Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Panay, Negros, and Bohol, with potential populations on other smaller, forested islands across the country. This species is c...
Near Threatened
- The Chocolate Boobook gets its name from its strikingly uniform, deep chocolate-brown plumage, which makes it one of the darkest *Ninox* owls. - Despite its relatively small size, its large, dark eyes give it an intense and captivating gaze in the dim forest light. - It is endemic to the Philip...