Southern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis granti
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderStrigiformes (Owls)
- FamilyStrigidae (Typical Owls)
- GenusPtilopsis (White-faced Owls)
- SpeciesPtilopsis granti (Southern White-faced Owl)
About the Southern White-faced Owl
The Southern white-faced owl (Ptilopsis granti) is a fairly small owl in the family Strigidae. It is native to the southern half of Africa. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the northern white-faced owl (P. leucopsis) but the two are now commonly treated as separate species.
It is 22–28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) long and weighs 185–220 g (6.5–7.8 oz). The upperparts are grey with dark streaks and there are white spots on the scapular feathers. The underparts are whitish with dark streaks. The face is white with a black border and black around the large orange eyes. The head has two short ear-tufts with black tips. Juvenile birds have a greyish face. The northern white-faced owl is usually paler and browner with reduced streaking below.
Their call is a series of fast, bubbling hoots, uttered at night and frequently repeated. These fast, staccato notes followed by a longer and higher-pitched 'hoot' are extensively used during breeding season and pairs of owls often sing together. The Northern white-faced owl has a very different two-note call.
Southern white-faced owls occur patchily in the western regions central and southern Africa, including Gabon... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Southern White-faced Owl in Etosha National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 3 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 5 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 6 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 7 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 10 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 11 | Liwonde National Park | 🇲🇼 Malawi | |
| 12 | Mana Pools National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 13 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 14 | Lower Zambezi National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 15 | Akagera National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 16 | Gorongosa National Park | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | |
| 17 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 18 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 19 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 20 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 21 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 22 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 23 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 24 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 25 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Southern White-faced Owl in Etosha National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Southern White-faced Owl sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Southern White-faced Owl in Etosha National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Southern White-faced Owl in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.