Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Oriental bay owl

Phodilus badius

Thomas Horsfield, 1821

In Thai: นกแสกแดง

The oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius) is a type of bay owl, usually classified with barn owls. It is completely nocturnal, and can be found throughout Southeast Asia. It has several subspecies. It has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions. The Congo bay owl (Phodilus prigoginei) was formerly classified as a subspecies of Oriental bay owl due to insufficient knowledge, but it has turned out that it might not even belong to the same genus. The Sri Lanka bay owl was also considered a subspecies. These birds prey upon small rodents, bats, birds, snakes, frogs, lizards, and large arthropods such as beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders.

A population of this species has apparently become extinct on Samar Island in the Philippines during the 20th century. It was described as Phodilus badius riverae and was only ever known from a single specimen, which was lost in a bombing raid in 1945. The validity of this taxon is uncertain; it is usually synonymized with the nominate subspecies (for reasons of biogeography) or the subspecies saturatus (from external appearance); it might be a distinct species, however.

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Category / Seasonal Status

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal status: Resident or presumed resident

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Tytonidae
Genus
Phodilus
Species
Phodilus badius

Common names

  • Thai: นกแสกแดง

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Oriental bay owl, Takua Pa District
Oriental bay owl, Mueang Trang District
Oriental bay owl, Khao Yai National Park

Range Map

Distribution map of Oriental bay owl, Phodilus badius in Thailand
  • Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai
  • Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Doi Phu Kha National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani
  • Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Luang National Park
  • Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Ko Chang District, Trat
  • Ko Lanta National Park
  • Kui Buri National Park
  • Mae Wong National Park
  • Mueang Krabi District, Krabi
  • Mueang Trang District, Trang
  • Ngao Waterfall National Park
  • Pang Sida National Park
  • Phanom District, Surat Thani
  • Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Phuket Province
  • San Kala Khiri National Park
  • Sri Phang-nga National Park
  • Takua Pa District, Phang Nga
  • Thale Ban National Park
Range map of Phodilus badius in Thailand