Long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi)

Description

Long-whiskered owlet fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Long-whiskered owlet description

The long-whiskered owlet is such a distinctive owl species that it has been placed in its own genus, Xenoglaux, a name arising from words meaning ‘strange owl’ in Greek ^{(4) (5) (6)}. The owlet is one of South America’s most elusive birds; since its discovery in 1976 only four wild sightings have been reported and only five individuals captured ^{(2) (4) (7) (8)}. As a result, little is known about the species ^{(7) (9)}.

One of the world’s smallest owls ⁽⁶⁾, the long-whiskered owlet is also one of the most eccentric in appearance, with large, bright reddish-orange eyes, prominent yellowish-white eyebrows and long facial ‘whiskers’ sprouting from the base of the bill and the sides of the face ^{(2) (5) (6)}. The owlet’s body is a warm brown colour with darker patterning, and it has a short tail and bare toes ⁽²⁾. The owlet has a distinctive territorial call consisting of a single, deep ‘woh’ performed at three-second intervals ⁽²⁾.

Spanish

Búho Pequeño de Bigotes Alargados, Lechucita Bigotona Mochuelo Peludo.

Size

Length: 13 – 14 cm ⁽²⁾

Long-whiskered owlet biology

The long-whiskered owlet is difficult to locate and capture, and the paucity of examined specimens means that almost nothing is known about its biology ^{(2) (6) (7)}.

The species was originally heard and captured at dusk and during the night ⁽⁷⁾; however, in 2007 a research team sighted the owlet several times during the day ⁽⁶⁾. It has been speculated that the species may be almost flightless ⁽²⁾.

Long-whiskered owlet range

The long-whiskered owlet is found in South America, where it is believed to occur only in a small area of the eastern Andes in northern Peru, estimated at just 190 square kilometres ⁽²⁾. Until recently the species was known at only two sites: the discovery site near Abra Patricia in the department of San Martín, and the Cordillera de Colán in the department of Amazonas ⁽²⁾. However, in 2010 researchers discovered an additional population in La Esperanza ^{(8) (10)}.

Long-whiskered owlet habitat

The owlet appears to solely inhabit humid, montane forest ⁽⁸⁾, situated on isolated ridges between 1,890 and 2,350 metres above sea level ^{(2) (7)}, where it is typically found in the under- and mid-storey of the forest ^{(2) (7)}. This habitat is described as being characterised by dense Chusquea bamboo thickets, abundant epiphytes, and scattered palm trees and tree ferns ^{(2) (7)}.

Long-whiskered owlet status

Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽³⁾.

Long-whiskered owlet threats

The primary threat to the long-whiskered owlet is the loss of its humid forest habitat ⁽¹⁰⁾. The tropical Andes, including the owlet’s range, are classified as a biodiversity hotspot, but it is estimated that only 25 percent of the original habitat remains in this area ⁽¹¹⁾. Although some areas of montane forest in north-east Peru remain relatively pristine ⁽¹²⁾, deforestation is accelerating ⁽¹⁰⁾.

The inaccessibility of the owlet’s habitat has afforded it protection in the past; however, human activity is now expanding into this habitat ^{(2) (5) (7)}, resulting in extensive clearance for grazing and agriculture in some locations ⁽¹³⁾. Forest habitat is declining in known owlet locations - rapidly in Cordillera de Colán and to a lesser extent around Abra Patricia ⁽²⁾. A paved highway along the main ridge in Abra Patricia has increased clearance pressure ^{(2) (14)}, in addition to opening the area to poaching of wildlife ⁽¹⁵⁾.

Long-whiskered owlet conservation

The main conservation measures aimed at, or affecting, the long-whiskered owlet involve the protection of its habitat. Until recently, the owlet’s habitat was completely unprotected ⁽⁶⁾; although the species occurred near to the Alto Mayo Protected Forest in San Martín ⁽²⁾, protection was only partial ⁽¹⁴⁾ and had little effect on the rate of deforestation ⁽²⁾.

Several conservation organisations acknowledge the north-eastern Peruvian forests as a key habitat for biodiversity; Conservation International has classed the whole tropical Andes area as a biodiversity hotspot ⁽¹¹⁾, and BirdLife International class the north-eastern Peruvian mountains an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) with urgent priority for conservation ⁽¹²⁾. BirdLife International, in partnership with Conservation International, has also mapped 33 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Peru ⁽¹⁶⁾, including Abra Patricia and Cordillera de Colán ⁽¹⁷⁾. Such acknowledgement has drawn additional attention and funding for conservation in the region. BirdFair raised $300,000 to support conservation of 8 of the most critical IBAs and BirdLife International are working with NGO partners to support projects including raising local awareness of the long-whiskered owlet through construction of an interpretive centre, and promotion of alternative, less harmful local practices in IBAs ⁽¹⁶⁾. A new reserve, the Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva Private Conservation Area, has also now been established to protect the long-whiskered owlet along with other species ⁽⁶⁾.

Many conservationists hope that the discovery of the long-whiskered-owlet population at La Esperanza will further aid conservation of the species and its habitat by generating further interest from birdwatchers and conservationists ^{(8) (10)}.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

To learn more about wildlife conservation in Peru see:

• The Nature Conservancy:
  http://www.nature.org/wherewework/southamerica/peru
• Conservation International:
  http://www.conservation.org/explore/south_america/peru/pages/overview.aspx

For more information on this and other bird species please see:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Epiphytes

Plants that use another plant, typically a tree, for their physical support, but which do not draw nourishment from it.

Genus

A category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Montane forest

Forest occurring in the montane zone, a zone of cool upland slopes below the tree line dominated by large evergreen trees.

Territorial

Describes an animal, a pair of animals or a colony that occupies and defends an area.

References

1. IUCN Red List (June, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. BirdLife International (June, 2010)
   http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2285&m=0
3. CITES (June, 2010)
   http://www.cites.org/
4. O’Neill, J.P. and Graves, G.R. (1977) A new genus and species of owl (Aves: Strigidae) from Peru. The Auk, 94(3): 409-416.
5. de Pastino, B. (2007) Photo in the News: ‘Strange Owl’ Seen in Wild for First Time. National Geographic, Online. Available at:
   http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070323-owl-picture.html
6. Wildlife Extra: Long-whiskered owlet seen in the wild for the first time (June, 2010)
   http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/long-whiskered_owlet.html#cr
7. BirdLife International (1992) Threatened Birds of the Americas. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
8. Neotropical Primate Conservation (June, 2010)
   http://neoprimate.org/archives/259/lang/en
9. BirdLife International: Long-whiskered owlet puts on a show (June, 2010)
   http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/03/long-whiskered_owlet.html
10. Wildlife Extra: New population of a rare and endangered long-whiskered owlet found in Peru (June, 2010)
    http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/whiskered-owlet210.html#cr
11. Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots (June, 2010)
    http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/andes/Pages/default.aspx
12. BirdLife International: EBA Factsheet: North-east Peruvian cordilleras (June, 2010)
    http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/ebas_search.html?action=EbaHTMDetails.asp&sid=51&m=0
13. WWF: Wild World Ecoregion Profile (June, 2010)
    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0153.html
14. Alliancefor Zero Extinction (June, 2010)
    http://www.zeroextinction.org/
15. American Bird Conservancy (June, 2010)
    http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/international/action/abrapatricia.html
16. BirdLife International: Conservation effort launched to protect the threatened biodiversity of Northern Peru’s “forgotten” forests (June, 2010)
    http://www.birdlife.org/news/pr/2006/03/peru.html
17. BirdLife International: IBAs in Peru (June, 2010)
    http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMFindResults.asp&INam=&Reg=11&Cty=166