Ninox spilonotus
The Romblon Boobook, *Ninox spilonotus*, is a charmingly diminutive owl endemic to a small island group in the central Philippines. Measuring approximately 19-20 cm in length, this compact raptor exhibits dark brown upperparts intricately spotted with rufous, while its underparts are a warm rufous-buff, also marked with dark spotting and barring, particularly on the flanks. A key identification feature for this species, distinguishing it from other Philippine Boobooks, is its bright yellow ey...
This boobook prefers primary and secondary lowland to mid-montane forests, often found along forest edges and occasionally in well-wooded cultivated areas. It typically inhabits elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,300 meters.
Its diet primarily consists of large insects, such as moths, beetles, and crickets, supplemented with small vertebrates including geckos and rodents.
The Romblon Boobook is a strictly nocturnal predator, typically beginning its activity around dusk and calling throughout the night from concealed perches within the forest canopy. It employs a sit-and-wait foraging strategy, scanning its surroundings from a branch before swooping down to snatch ...
The Romblon Boobook is an obligate resident endemic to the Romblon island group in the central Philippines. Its primary distribution includes the islands of Tablas, Sibuyan, and Romblon. While reports of similar owls on nearby Masbate Island may suggest a broader distribution, these require furth...
Least Concern
- The Romblon Boobook was once considered a subspecies of the Philippine Boobook (*Ninox philippensis*) before being recognized as a distinct species in 2012 based on vocal and morphological differences. - It is strictly endemic, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world except the Romblon is...