Moluccan Masked Owl (Tyto sororcula) [XC414991]
by Ross Gallardy from Tanimbar, nr Kormomolin, Yamdena Island, Maluku, Indonesia (call)
Moluccan Masked Owl (Tyto sororcula) [XC122160]
by George Wagner from Tanimbar Islands: Site 2 Yamdena, Maluku, Indonesia (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Australian Masked-Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae), Golden Masked-Owl (Tyto aurantia), Manus Masked Owl (Tyto manusi), Taliabu Masked-Owl (Tyto nigrobrunnea) and Minahasa Masked-Owl (Tyto inexspectata). Sometimes treated as conspecific with Australian Masked-Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae). Subspecies cayelii may represent a separate species. Seram population may represent an undescribed subspecies. Species name often misspelt sorocula.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
cayelii (Hartert, 1900) - Buru. Also Seram (probably this race). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Australian Masked-Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae).
sororcula (Sclater, 1883) - Tanimbar Is (Larat, Yamdena).
almae Jønsson et al., 2013 - Seram Is. (southern Moluccas). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Seram Masked-Owl (Tyto almae).
Similar Species
Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba) is generally larger, speckled rather than mottled above, whiter below with more prominent pale facial disc.
References
See References.