- Ninox everetti Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. (1897), 6, 47; Ibis (1897), 449; Hand-List (1899), 1, 290; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 47.
Diagnosis.—Similar to Ninox reyi but pale spots of primaries few, fulvescent, very slightly spotted with white; and abdomen, flanks, and thighs ocherous-fulvous, not white spotted with brown. Length, 241; wing, 195.[28]
This is a little-known species of which more specimens should be examined and compared with Rey’s hawk owl.
226. NINOX SPILOCEPHALA Tweeddale.
TWEEDDALE’S HAWK OWL.
- Ninox spilocephala Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 940; Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 290; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 47.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult.—Very similar to Ninox philippensis from which it differs in having the head and neck spotted with rufous or tawny brown and the white spots on primary- and secondary-coverts larger; decomposed feathers below eye unusually long and entirely covering the true ear-coverts. A male from Basilan is 230 in length; wing, 177; tail, 83; culmen from base, 22; tarsus, 26. Female, length, 230; wing, 158; tail, 82; culmen from base, 21; tarsus, 28.
“Very common in the islands where it occurs. Hides among thick vines or bushes during the day. Feeds on beetles, grasshoppers, and the like. Iris yellow; legs and feet dirty, light yellow; bill pale greenish horn-color. Ten specimens average, 214 in length; wing, 162; tail, 76; culmen, 15; tarsus, 28; middle toe with claw, 22.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)