Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) [XC294315]
by Tony Archer from Isalo National Park, Isalo, Madagascar (call, flusched call)
Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) [XC424373]
by Tony Archer from Klerksdorp, Southern DC, North West, South Africa (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes thought to be closely related to Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), the two replacing each other ecologically. Resemblance, however, rather superficial and probably due to convergence, and voices also very different.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
tingitanus (Loche, 1867) - North-western Morocco.
capensis (Smith, 1834) - Isolated areas in western Africa, from Senegal to Chad and Cameroon. Also from southern Sudan and Ethiopian Highlands, and from southern Congo, south to the Cape.