About Ptilopsis granti (Kollibay, 1910)
Ptilopsis granti, commonly known as the southern white-faced owl, measures 22–28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) in length and weighs 185–220 g (6.5–7.8 oz). Its upperparts are grey with dark streaks, and its scapular feathers bear white spots. Its underparts are whitish with dark streaks. It has a white face outlined in black, with black coloration surrounding its large orange eyes. The head carries two short ear-tufts tipped with black. Juvenile southern white-faced owls have greyish faces. The closely related northern white-faced owl is typically paler and browner, with less streaking on its underparts. The call of Ptilopsis granti is a series of fast, bubbling hoots, produced at night and repeated frequently. These fast, staccato notes are followed by a longer, higher-pitched hoot; this call is used extensively during the breeding season, and paired owls often call together. By contrast, the northern white-faced owl has a very distinct two-note call. Southern white-faced owls have a patchy distribution across western, central, and southern Africa, including Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola. They are more commonly found in Uganda, southern Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, and the northern regions of South Africa. This owl species lives in savanna and dry woodland habitats. It is usually found alone or in pairs. It primarily hunts large insects, and occasionally preys on small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
