The Andaman masked owl is a barn owl endemic to the southern Andaman Islands archipelago of India, in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. Regarded by some authors as a subspecies of the common barn owl, it is recognized by others as a species in its own right.
Region
Andaman Islands (India)
Typical Environment
Occurs on the Andaman Islands, favoring lowland forests, mangroves, coconut groves, and mixed agriculture-forest mosaics. It readily uses human-altered landscapes, including villages and plantations, so long as roost sites are available. Roosts are taken in tree cavities, palm crowns, quiet buildings, and dense foliage. Hunting typically happens over open glades, along forest edges, and over paddy fields and grasslands. Its distribution is patchy, tracking prey availability and suitable roosts.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
An island barn-owl restricted to India’s Andaman Islands, it has been treated either as a distinct species or as a subspecies of the common barn owl. It hunts mostly at night around forest edges, fields, and villages, where it helps control rats. Its facial disc is a classic heart shape with a dusky rim, giving the 'masked' appearance. Habitat alteration and persecution around settlements can affect local numbers.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
silent, buoyant flight with steady, deep wingbeats; quarters low over ground
Social Behavior
Typically seen alone or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Pairs are monogamous and nest in cavities, palm crowns, or quiet buildings, laying a small clutch of eggs. Young remain at the nest for several weeks and are fed by both parents.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are dominated by harsh, drawn-out screeches and raspy hisses rather than musical songs. It also emits chattering calls and bill-snaps near the nest. Calls carry well at night over open habitats.
Plumage
Upperparts dark rufous-brown with fine blackish speckling; underparts buff to whitish with scattered spots. The facial disc is heart-shaped, buff to creamy, bordered by a darker rim that creates a masked look. Flight feathers are darker with pale mottling; legs long and sparsely feathered.
Diet
Primarily small mammals such as rats and mice; also takes shrews, small birds, lizards, and large insects. Hunts by slow, coursing flight and by dropping from perches after locating prey by sound. Prey is swallowed whole when small or dismembered and later regurgitated as pellets.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along field margins, paddy fields, mangroves, village edges, and forest clearings where prey is abundant. Often exploits human-modified areas with high rodent densities.
