The Luzon boobook or Luzon hawk owl, also Philippine hawk owl or Philippine boobook, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it lives in forests. It is a brown and white mottled bird and males and females look much alike.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Endemic to the Philippines, primarily on Luzon and nearby islands such as Polillo and Catanduanes. It occupies primary and secondary lowland to lower montane forests, forest edges, and wooded farmlands. The species tolerates degraded habitats if some tall trees remain for roosting and nesting. It roosts in dense foliage by day and hunts along edges, clearings, and along streams by night.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Luzon hawk-owl or Philippine boobook, this small owl is part of a recently split species complex unique to the Philippines. Its name “boobook” comes from its repetitive, echoing call often rendered as boo-book. It adapts well to secondary forests and edges, so it may persist near villages where trees remain. Most often detected by voice at night rather than by sight.
''Ninox philippensis centralis'' on a 2004 stamp and postcard of the Philippines
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually observed as single birds or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Pairs are monogamous and defend small territories. Nests are placed in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, with a small clutch and strong parental care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A repetitive, two-note boo-book or poook-pu call, often given at dusk and throughout the night. Duetting between mates is common, with the female typically giving slightly higher-pitched notes.
Plumage
Upperparts dark brown with pale spotting; underparts whitish to buff with bold brown streaking. The facial disk is brown with a paler eyebrow and a small whitish throat patch. Feathers are compact and soft, aiding silent flight.
Diet
Primarily hunts large insects such as moths, beetles, crickets, and katydids. It also takes small vertebrates when available, including geckos, small rodents, and small birds. Prey is usually taken by short sallies from a perch or by dropping to the ground.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, along trails and streams, and in semi-open woodlands and plantations adjacent to forest. Often hunts from low to mid-level perches under the canopy.
