Eastern Grass Owl

Tyto longimembris (Jerdon, 1839)

Eastern Grass Owl, Tyto longimembris, is an owl of the Oriental Region and Australasia, ranging from eastern India to eastern China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Sulawesi, south-east New Guinea, northern and north-eastern Australia, and New Caledonia. It is a member of the barn owl family and was described by Jerdon in 1839. It favours tall grasslands and swamps, where it roosts and nests in flattened vegetation linked by tunnel-like runs through the swamp plants. It is identified by dark brown or tan upperparts with pale spotting, barred wings, a very pale bill, feathered legs, dark brown eyes, and a heart-shaped facial disc.

Order

Strigiformes

Family

Tytonidae — Barn Owls

Breeding range

Oriental Region, Australasia: e India to e China, Philippines, Taiwan, Sulawesi, se New Guinea, n, ne Australia and New Caledonia