Want to know where and when to find Southern White faced Owl? opspoor shows recent sightings across South Africa's parks and when each species is usually active.
Where to see Southern White faced Owl in South Africa
About the Southern White faced Owl
A fairly small, nocturnal owl of savanna and dry woodland, with a striking white face bordered in black, black rings around large orange eyes, and short ear-tufts with black tips. It hunts mainly large insects, with occasional small mammals, birds and reptiles, and is usually seen alone or in pairs. Pairs often duet at night with fast, bubbling hoots followed by a longer, higher-pitched note.
How to identify the Southern White faced Owl
Distinctive white facial disc with a black border and black-ringed orange eyes; short black-tipped ear-tufts; the closely related Northern White-faced Owl is paler and browner with a very different two-note call
Did you know?
After summer it raises its resting metabolic rate by around 45% to boost cold tolerance for winter. That is an unusual adaptation, since most owls of similar size instead lower their metabolism when food is scarce.
Also known as: Southern White faced Scops Owl
Planning a safari? Pick a park above to see when and where to look for Southern White faced Owl, and log your own sightings in opspoor, even with no signal.