Christmas Boobook (Ninox natalis) [XC583371]
by id from Christmas Island Golf Course, Christmas Island, Australia (call)
Christmas Boobook (Ninox natalis) [XC68846]
by Frank Lambert from Christmas Island, Australia (song)
Nest
In a hollow of a tree.
Eggs (Guide)
Probably 2; white; rounded. Incubation: probably by female.
Young
Fledge in 68 - 77 days. Fed by both parents.
Subspecies
Ninox squamipila (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Seram Boobook (Ninox squamipila) and Christmas Boobook (Ninox natalis) following Norman et al. (1998).
Formerly considered conspecific with Seram Boobook (Ninox squamipila), but separable on morphological and plumage details, molecular differences and perhaps voice.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
None. This is the only owl on Christmas Island.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet