| Grass Owl | |
| |
| Names | |
| Common Name: | Grass Owl |
| Scientific Name: | Tyto longimembris |
| Appearance | |
| Medium-sized owl with heart shaped face, brown and tan body with pale spots, and dark brown eyes. | |
| Behavior | |
| Live in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto | |
Grass Owls are members of the Tyto genus which includes Barn Owls.
Information[]
Description[]
The Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris), also called the Chinese Grass Owl or Australian Grass Owl, have dark brown or tan upper parts with pale spots. They have black and tan bars on their wings and a very pale beak, feathered legs, and dark brown eyes. Their facial disc is white in males and fawn-coloured in females. Their size is 13-17 in (32-42 cm), and their wingspan is 39-46 in (100 to 116 cm). The female weighs 16 oz (460 g), while the male weighs 14 oz (420 g).
The African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) has a whitish-cream facial disc with a thin yellowish-buff rim. The eyes are brownish-black, and the bill is whitish to pale pink. The entire upperparts from the crown to the lower back and wing-coverts is uniform sooty blackish-brown, with scattered small white spots and greyish flecks. Underparts are whitish to creamy-brownish with dark spots. Their size 15-17 in (38-42 cm), and they weigh between 12.5-18.3 oz (355-520 g).
The Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei), also called the Madagascar Grass Owl, is an overall orange-red to yellow-ochre color with small black spots. The facial disc is between grey and brown, the eyes are a sooty-black color, and the beak is pale grey. Their size is 11-12 in (27-30 cm), and they weigh between 11.3-15.3 oz (323-435 g).
They all have no ear-tufts and long legs. The cries of the Eastern and African are a screech, louder than the Barn Owl, but softer than the Masked Owl. The cry of the Red Owl is similar to a Barn Owl - a long screeching hiss, but with a downward frequency at the end, which distinguishes its call from the Barn Owl.
Ecology[]
The Eastern Grass Owl prefers tall grasslands and swamps. They are found from India to Vietnam, North Malay Peninsula and Southeast China, Taiwan, Philippines, Sulawesi, Flores, Southeast New Guinea and Australia. Also found in New Caledonia and Fiji.
The African Grass Owl lives in moist grassland and open savanna, and sometimes also dry grassland, always around long dense grass. They are found in East Africa from Ethiopian Highlands south to the Cape, and across south Congo to north Angola. There is an isolated population in Cameroon.
The Red Owl is endemic to Madagascar. They are reclusive and often mistaken for a small Barn Owl. They live in dry deciduous forests and humid evergreen forests.
In series, all are mentioned to live in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto.
All are nocturnal, with the Eastern and African roosting in tall grass during the day, while the Red Owl prefers rock ledges, cave entrances, and tree cavities.
Diet[]
Eastern Grass Owls prey primarily on rodents, especially rats. Although about the same size as Barn Owls, their wings are longer, as they hunt in flight and never from perches. They fly low, and then quickly plunge into the grass, using their hearing and long legs to capture their prey. Groups of several dozen may hunt in the same area.
The African Grass Owl prefers rodents and other small mammals (bats, hedgehogs, shrews, hares), but will also take large insects, frogs, and small birds. They usually hunt by flying low, listening and watching, but will also hunt from a perch.
The Red Owl feeds mostly on native small mammals (tenrecs, tufted-tailed rats, mouse lemurs), but will also eat frogs, geckos, and insects. It hunts along forest edges, fence-lines, and in rice fields. While it shares territory with the Western Barn Owl, the Barn Owl primarily preys on introduced species like the black rat, so there's no overlap in preferred diet.
Reproduction[]
Eastern Grass Owls lay 3-8 eggs, incubation lasts about 42 days, fledging starts after about 2 months.
African Grass Owls lay 2-4 eggs, incubation lasts 32-42 days, fledging starts after about 7 weeks.
Both nest on the ground in tall grass at the end of long grass tunnels.
Little is known about the Red Owl. It nests in tree cavities, usually laying 2 eggs, with the young fledging after about 10 weeks.
History[]
The Capture[]
When Soren is captured by Jatt and Jutt, he mentions Grass Owls living in Tyto.
Gylfie mentions to Soren that a Grass Owl was marching and stumbled, but all the other owlets simply walked around.
The Siege[]
As the Pure Ones began their siege, Grass Owls were among the many other Tyto Owls that attacked.
The Burning[]
Perched atop the Beak of Glaux, Uglamore thinks to himself about the Pure Ones chain of command, with Masked Owls and Grass Owls ranking below Barn Owls, but above Sooty Owls.
A Grass Owl reports to Stryker that there's no sign of the Guardians.
The River of Wind[]
Twilight chases after a fast flying Grass Owl Pure One. As the Grass Owl attacks with coal claws, Twilight dodges, and the danyk sent the Grass Owl plummeting.
Trivia[]
- Grass Owls have appeared several times throughout the series, usually as members of the Pure Ones, but there are no named characters.
Gallery[]
