Northern Boobook

Northern Boobook is a raptorial owl of eastern and southern Asia. It was considered until recently conspecific with the brown boobook, and the species now includes two subspecies, a migrant and a non-migrant (Wikipedia, general species account). Ninox japonica is a hawk owl species with a body length averaging between 29 and 33 cm and a wingspan of approximately 60 to 70 cm wide. Current knowledge on the species shows no sexual dimorphism and an average weight of approximately 168g. (Wikipedia, general species account).

Select species within the genus are recognized for their reversed sexual dimorphism and a unique behavior called "prey holding" or "mantling". This group of owls with habitats spanning over East Asia, South-East Siberia, North Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines was recognized to have 11 phenotypically varying subspecies, before being divided into three distinct species in the early 2000s. Its habitat mainly comprises low altitude deciduous forests with thick vegetation and it will typically create its nest within trees, where they are practically indiscernible. (Wikipedia, general species account).