“Young.—Above brown, glossed with chocolate, most of the feathers of the upper surface with paler brown margins; feathers of the head and hind neck mesially streaked with fulvous; sides of face a little paler than the head, but streaked in the same manner; under surface of body pale brown, inclining to rufous, and longitudinally streaked with whitish down the center; thighs white, much mottled with rufous-brown; lower abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts pure white; under wing-coverts pale brown, plainly streaked with white, the greater series almost entirely white, with a few brown markings; quills brown, white at base of inner web, the white extending further on secondaries; which have ashy brown cross-bars; tail fulvous brown, mottled all over with dark brown, except at the tip, which is uniform dark brown, forming a very distinct band.
“The bird above described, though full grown, is evidently immature as regards its plumage. The second stage is very similar to the adult, but is by no means so gray on the head and throat.” (Sharpe.)
“Less common than Haliæetus leucogaster but frequents the same localities. Quite abundant at Lake Naujan in Mindoro.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
A few individuals were seen near the Baco River in Mindoro and Celestino took a pair of young birds in northern Mindanao.
Order STRIGIFORMES.
OWLS.
Head large and round; bill strongly hooked and with a cere which is more or less hidden by stiffish bristles; eyes large, directed forward, each surrounded by a more or less perfect ruff of modified, close-textured feathers; in most species a bunch of elongate erectile feathers above each eye forming the so-called horns or ear-tufts; feet strong, claws curved and sharp; outer toe reversible; plumage soft and fluffy; colors generally various shades of brown, gray, and rufous and in most species vermiculated and streaked, the plumage resembling that of the Caprimulgidæ; habits nocturnal, or crepuscular, and insectivorous; eggs white, nearly globular, usually deposited in a hole in a hollow branch or trunk of a tree, or in a deserted hawk’s nest.
Families.
- a1. Claw of middle toe not pectinate; middle toe longer than inner toe. Strigidæ (p. [249])
- a2. Claw of middle toe pectinate on inner margin; inner and middle toes about equal in length. Aluconidæ (p. [271])