| Bay Owls | |
| |
| Names | |
| Common Name: | Bay Owls |
| Scientific Name: | Phodilus badius |
| Appearance | |
| Brown, grey, and cream colored, with V-shaped faces, and dark brownish-black eyes. | |
| Behavior | |
| Native to the Forest Kingdom of Tyto. | |
Bay Owls are small members of the Tytonidae family consisting of two species: the Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius) and the Sri Lanka Bay Owl (Phodilus assimilis). Being completely nocturnal, these owls aren't very well known, and sightings are rare.
Information[]
Description[]
Bay Owls are smaller than Barn Owls, but bear a resemblance to them. Unlike them, they have feathers resembling ears and V-shaped faces. Bay Owls are 9-11 in (22.5-29 cm) long, weigh 8-10 oz (255-308g), and have a wingspan between 6-9 in (17-23 cm). Their song is 4-7 loud, melancholic whistles.
Ecology[]
Bay Owls live in the forests and grasslands of India, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
In series, they're mentioned to live in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto.
Diet[]
Bay Owls hunt from a perch, and then fly through the dense trees of the forest canopy to make a kill. This is made possible by their relatively short and rounded wings. They also tend to hunt near water. They feed on small rodents, bats, birds, lizards, frogs, and large insects.
Reproduction[]
Breeding season is March-May. They usually nest in trees, but will use nest boxes. 3-5 eggs are laid, and incubation lasts for approximately 36–42 days.
Trivia[]
- The genus name Phodilus is derived from the Ancient Greek words phōs ("light" or "daylight") and deilos ("timid" or "cowardly").
- The species name of the Oriental Bay Owl badius is Latin for "chestnut", likely referring to its color.
- The species name of the Sri Lanka Bay Owl assimilis is Latin for "similar", likely because it was once considered a subspecies of the Oriental Bay Owl.
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