New record, ranging behaviour, vocalization and food of the Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei

Abstract

The rare Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei was captured, radio tagged and released for study in October 1994. It ranged within an area of 210 ha from October to December 1994, and 50% of the locations were along forest edge and newly created tavies, 36% in rice fields and 14% in cultivated tavies. Nine diurnal roost sites were documented in small ravines among secondary vegetation and bananas (Masu sp.). The owl used dense canopy‐covered roosts that averaged 3.7 m above the ground and were extremely close to tavies, averaging 9.8 m. The 17 regurgitated pellets collected contained 27 individual vertebrates representing native small mammals of the families Tenrecidae and Muridae. The owl's vocalization was similar to that of the Barn Owl Tyto alba. This new record on Masoala Peninsula at sea level substantially extends the species potential range in Madagascar, and our observations of behaviour and habitat use contradict previous descriptions of the species as a primary forest obligate.