Justification This species has been downlisted to Vulnerable as recent range extensions mean its population is now thought to be larger than was previously believed, however its population is still presumed to be small and declining owing to the destruction and severe fragmentation of its rainforest habitat.

Family/Sub-family Tytonidae

Species name author (Milne Edwards, 1878)

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 30 cm. Medium-sized owl. Variable rich orange-buff upperparts (including crown), marked with sparse black spots especially on crown, coverts and flight feathers. Rather uniform pale orange underparts, with paler facial ruff and belly. Pale bill, grey legs. Similar spp. From Barn Owl T. alba by smaller size, rounder facial disk, overall rich orange colouration (especially on breast). Voice Call usually strongly descending in tone (like T. alba).

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

52,200 km²

Yes

Range & population There are records of Tyto soumagnei from the eastern rainforest of Madagascar, formerly known from between Amber Mountain in the far north to Mantadia National Park in the centre-east, in particular. Significantly, a further site (Kalambatritra) for the species was recently located 500 km further south of its previously known range⁷. More recently, the species was found in the extreme south-east of Madagascar, in the lowlands of Tsitongambarika, extending its presumed range considerably^10,11. It is probably present in all suitably large blocks of humid evergreen forest in the east and north of Madagascar, but its nocturnal habits make it difficult to detect. Future surveys may reveal it to be less rare than currently thought^3,6.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: The species occurs in and adjacent to humid evergreen forest³ from sea level to 2000 m⁶, but has also been recorded in an area dominated by dry deciduous forest^9,12. It hunts at night in somewhat open areas in or near primary forest, perching in trees at the forest edge. Although formerly believed to occur only in undisturbed rainforest², it has been recorded in degraded/secondary forest-edge vegetation and also hunts over open, human-altered habitat adjacent to forest, including rice-paddies and slash-and-burn cultivation^4,5, and it may require both forest and open areas (and so may be absent from large areas of forest interior)¹³. In Masoala it ranged over 210 ha⁵. Its diet is predominantly small native mammals, in contrast to T. alba which feeds mostly on introduced rat Rattus species¹ outside primary forest. Tsingy tufted-tailed rats Eliurus antsingy constituted almost 50% of total prey mass of birds in dry forest at Ankarana (northern Madagascar), and birds here also consumed insects, frogs and geckos¹². Birds have been recorded roosting on rock ledges and in cave entrances^9,12. The first nest recorded by scientists was found in September 1995, 23 m above ground, in a natural tree-cavity in an isolated native tree Weinmannia, 500 m from the edge of the main forest block⁴. Clutch-size was probably two (two young successfully fledged)⁴. The species may have been overlooked previously for three reasons: a) it is reclusive and strictly nocturnal; b) it is mistaken for Tyto alba; and c) it occurs patchily and at low densities^7,10.

Threats Deforestation, mainly for subsistence slash-and-burn cultivation but also for commercial logging, continues to destroy the species's main evergreen forest habitat. Uncontrolled use of fire, often as a result of poor farming practices, is also a major cause of deforestation. Much of the eastern coastal plain has either already been cleared or is covered by highly degraded forest, remaining habitat is under pressure from the increasing human population⁸.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. Six sites where it has been recently recorded are all Important Bird Areas, and include several protected areas - Mantadia National Park, Marotandrano Special Reserve, Masoala National Park, Montagne d'Ambre National Park, Tsaratanana Strict Reserve and Zahamena National Park - where it probably occurs at low density⁶.

Conservation measures proposed Establish presence or absence at rainforest sites to the south of Mantadia, especially in Midongy-South, Ranomafana, Andringitra and Andohahela National Parks. Determine its habitat requirements for breeding and foraging, to clarify its population size. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status.

References Collar and Stuart (1985). 1. Goodman and Thorstrom (1998). 2. Langrand (1990). 3. Morris and Hawkins (1998). 4. Thorstrom and de Roland (1997). 5. Thorstrom et al. (1997). 6. ZICOMA (1999). 7. Irwin and Samonds (2002). 8. Du Puy and Moat (1996). 9. van Esbroeck (2006). 10. R. Thorstrom and L.-A. Rene de Roland in litt. (2007). 11. R. Safford in litt. (2007). 12. Cardiff and Goodman (2008). 13. S. Mitchell in litt. (2009).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Mike Evans (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International), P. Barry Taylor (University of Natal)

Contributors Cyrille Deliry, Frank Hawkins (Conservation International), Simon Mitchell (BirdLife International), Lily Arison Réné De Roland (The Peregrine Fund), Roger Safford (BirdLife International), Russell Thorstrom (The Peregrine Fund)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Tyto soumagnei. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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