Philippine Eagle Owl

In the heart of the Philippine forests resides a magnificent creature, the Philippine Eagle Owl. Standing at 15 to 20 inches tall with a wingspan of up to 48 inches, this eagle-owl preys on rodents, birds, insects and small reptiles in dense forest areas across various Philippine islands. This owl’s striking appearance includes prominent ear tufts and captivating modeled brown feathers with a bird call pitch of a long whistle that rises shortly and falls at the end. It is also described as being incredibly bulky.

It is the largest owl in the Philippines, but among the smallest members of the genus Bubo. As its name suggest, it is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found in lowland forests on the islands of Catanduanes, Samar, Bohol, Mindanao, Luzon, Leyte and possibly Sibuyan.

Due to their reliance on living in large lowland forests, forest conservation is important in order to maintain populations of the Philippine eagle-owl, which is becoming increasingly vulnerable to going extinct. The Philippine eagle-owl was previously listed as endangered, but due to destruction of lowland habitat and human encroachment, the eagle-owl has since been adjusted to the vulnerability of extinction.

Scientific Name: Ketupa philippensis
Family: Strigidae

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_eagle-owl