CAMIGUIN HAWK-OWL
Ninox leventisi
Family Strigidae

endemic, endangered

Bird # 477 - March 2015

Camiguin Hawk-Owl and Cebu Hawk Owl were named as new species in 2012. This means that they had never before received a valid scientific name. This is different from a split, when a known, named form within a species is newly recognized a specifically distinct. Previous to this, Philippine Hawk-Owl Ninox philippensis was treated as one species with 8 subspecies. Now there are 7 species. The range of spilonata covered Camiguin Sur, Cebu, Sibuyan, and Tablas. In the Kennedy guide it was noted that "The whole Philippine Hawk-Owl complex is currently under review". The spilonata were physically similar, but vocally very different. The splits and new species were accepted after comparisons were made of plumage and new, high quality recordings were made on all key islands.

The first owl we saw in March 2015 was near a house and is used to seeing people move back and forth. It probably hunts tree rats which we saw running in the trees and maybe insects because it was very near a porch light. These owls are usually in groups of two and more. We did not get to photograph the two groups we heard before this individual. In April 2015 we went back to Camiguin and we got to take some photos of a pair.

The call of this own is very unusual. It sounds like a tribe of monkeys. The locals call it kugkug
Got this great owl thru the kindness of Michael Siy, the invaluable help of Clemn A Macasiano and additional assistance from Robert Hutchinson.

information about the splits and new species is from Philippine Hawk Owl Presentation