Southern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis granti
Also known as: White-faced Scops Owl
The Southern White-faced Owl is a small but striking owl native to the African savannah, known for its vivid white facial disc framed by black borders. It is famous for its 'transformer' defence mechanism: when threatened, it can either fluff up its feathers to look huge or pull them in tight to resemble a thin tree branch, depending on the size of the aggressor.
Southern White-faced Owl Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions About the Southern White-faced Owl
When faced with a much larger predator, this owl can compress its feathers, elongate its body, and narrow its eyes so it resembles a broken branch. It uses that posture as camouflage, relying on stillness and shape rather than trying to look fierce.
The Southern White-faced Owl can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa and is most often associated with Savannas, woodlands, and scrub.
The Southern White-faced Owl feeds on Insects, small mammals, birds and is considered a carnivore.
The Southern White-faced Owl is currently listed as Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Main threats include Habitat fragmentation, Use of pesticides.
The Southern White-faced Owl is usually solitary.
The Southern White-faced Owl is typically nocturnal.
The Southern White-faced Owl is resident.
The main threats facing the Southern White-faced Owl include Habitat fragmentation and Use of pesticides.
The Southern White-faced Owl population trend is currently stable.
Well-known places to look for the Southern White-faced Owl include Serengeti (Tanzania) and Etosha National Park (Namibia).
Natural predators of the Southern White-faced Owl include Large owls, Birds of prey, and Snakes.
Popularized on social media for its unique defensive postures.
The Southern White-faced Owl is part of the Strigidae family and a Strigiformes order.
The Southern White-faced Owl weighs about 0.22 kg, stands around 24 cm tall, reaches about 25 cm in length, and has a wingspan of about 50 cm.
The Southern White-faced Owl can reach speeds of around 30 km/h.
