Open AccessPHARAOH EAGLE-OWL BUBO ASCALAPHUS (SAVIGNY, 1809) (STRIGIFORMES, STRIGIDAE), THE “SHROUDED IN MYSTERY” OWL OF IRAQ AND IRAN
Author(s) -
Omar F. Al-Sheikhly,
Heimo Mikkola,
Seyd B. Mousavi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
maǧallaẗ matḥaf al-tārīẖ al-ṭabī’ī/bulletin of the iraq natural history museum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2311-9799
pISSN - 1017-8678
DOI - 10.26842/binhm.7.2020.16.2.0219
Subject(s) - bubo , eagle , geography , zoology , ecology , biology
The easternmost extent of the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl Bubo ascalaphus (Savigny, 1809) distribution has remained enigmatic due to identification problems and lack of owl research. In Iraq, B. ascalaphus has been reported from only few localities in western Iraqi deserts; while its occurrence in Iran has not been reported before this study. In 2017–2020, several new records of B. ascalaphus in western through southeastern Iraq were made and a new distribution range in western Iran was confirmed. Furthermore, field identification, interspecific relationships and conservation status of B. ascalaphus in Iraq and Iran were comprehensively discussed.