Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Ninox japonica
Family: Owls · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 30–31 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds in south Siberia, the Korean Peninsula, eastern China, and Japan; resident year-round in Taiwan. Migrates south through eastern Asia, wintering on the Greater and Lesser Sundas, the Philippines, northern Borneo, and eastern Java.
Has an overall dark brown coloration, large yellow eyes, small white patch above the bill, and whitish underparts with brown teardrop-shaped blotches. Separated from Brown Boobook by teardrop-shaped blotches on the underparts compared to rounder, heart-shaped blotches in Brown (heart-shaped markings in Northern may also be observed along the flanks). When in hand, Northern Boobook has a longer wing-to-tail ratio. Calls are diagnostic.
While on migration, will make use of any habitat with trees, including parks, gardens and scrubland. In comparison, Brown Boobook is rarely encountered outside of the central forests in Singapore.
Hunts nocturnally from a perch, taking prey on the ground and in foliage. Rarely calls on migration.