Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis leucotis
Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) — Owls of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 204 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 Ptilopsis
- Species leucotis
Where it lives
Senegal and Gambia to Somalia, south to northern DR Congo, Uganda and central Kenya
Quick facts
- Weight
- 204 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern White-faced Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Northern White-faced Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Somalia, s to n DR Congo, Uganda and c Kenya.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 204 g, with a wing length of about 18.6 cm and a tail of around 9.1 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 8.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern White-faced Owl?
The Northern White-faced Owl is a large bird that weighs around 204 g.
Where does the Northern White-faced Owl live?
The Northern White-faced Owl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Somalia, s to n DR Congo, Uganda and c Kenya, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Northern White-faced Owl belong to?
The Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Northern White-faced Owl eat?
The Northern White-faced Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Northern White-faced Owl migrate?
The Northern White-faced Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern White-faced 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 Northern White-faced Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Northern White-faced Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern White-faced Owl's range?
The Northern White-faced Owl has a mapped global range of about 8.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.