The Oriental bay owl is a species of bay owl. It is completely nocturnal, and can be found throughout Southeast Asia and parts of India. It has several subspecies. It has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions. The Congo bay owl was formerly classified as a subspecies of Oriental bay owl due to insufficient knowledge, but it has turned out that it might not even belong to the same genus. The Sri Lanka bay owl was also considered a subspecies.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, forest edges, bamboo thickets, and swamp or peat forests. It prefers dense understory and roosts in cavities or thick vegetation during the day. The species occurs on the Indian subcontinent, across mainland Southeast Asia, and on several Sundaic islands. It tolerates some secondary growth and selectively logged forest but declines where large tracts are cleared.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small, nocturnal owl has a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc with ear-like extensions and is adapted for silent flight through dense forest. It ranges from India through Southeast Asia to Indonesia and was historically lumped with other bay owls; the Sri Lanka bay owl and Congo bay owl are now treated as separate species. It nests in tree hollows and is seldom seen, more often detected by its eerie, whistled calls.
Two Oriental bay owls looking down at people trying to take photographs of them
Illustration from "Birds of Asia" (1867-1872)
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
silent, buoyant flight with short glides through dense cover
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, remaining concealed by day and becoming active after dusk. It nests in tree cavities, often old woodpecker holes, and lays a small clutch that both parents tend. Pairs defend territories within suitable forest patches.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are soft, fluty whistles and eerie, descending notes given at night, often repeated in series. It also utters thin screams and squeaks during territorial or courtship exchanges.
