Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Owl
Asio madagascariensis
Madagascar Owl (Asio madagascariensis) — Owls of Africa.
The Madagascar Owl (Asio madagascariensis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 322 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Asio
- Species madagascariensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 322 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Madagascar Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Owl (Asio madagascariensis) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 322 g, with a wing length of about 25.7 cm and a tail of around 14.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 580,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Owl?
The Madagascar Owl is a large bird that weighs around 322 g.
Where does the Madagascar Owl live?
The Madagascar Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Madagascar Owl belong to?
The Madagascar Owl (Asio madagascariensis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Madagascar Owl eat?
The Madagascar Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Madagascar Owl migrate?
The Madagascar Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Madagascar Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Madagascar Owl's range?
The Madagascar Owl has a mapped global range of about 580,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.