Scientific Name: Ninox japonica
Malay Name: Pungguk Betemak Utara
Chinese Name: 北鹰鸮
Range: Breeding Range: (OR) Russian Far East to Korea, Japan; Taiwan
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: florensis, japonica, totogo.
Size: 30-31 cm
Identification: Similar to Brown Boobook. Overall brown colouration with large, yellow eyes and small, white patch above bill. Field identification from Brown Boobook is tricky with this bird possessing more elongated, teardrop-shaped streaking compared to the rounder, more heart-shaped streaks of the local subspecies of the Brown Boobook. This bird also possesses proportionally longer wings than the resident species, however, this is hard to make out in the field.
Similar looking species: Brown Boobook
Habitat: While on migration will make use of any habitat with trees, including scrubland and other areas outside of the closed forests that characterise our central reserves.
Behaviour/Ecology: Long-distance migrant from eastern Asia. Vocalisations are highly distinct from local Brown Boobook, but calls rarely in its wintering grounds.
Local Status: Rare migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Nov 2022, Mar 2023, Apr 2023
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Northern Boobook)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Ninox japonica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725653A94898452.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Northern Boobook. Retrieved on June 3, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/northern-boobook.