Appearance
The total length of the bird is 33 cm; weight - 380 grams; wing length - 241-264 mm.
A small owl of the genus Tyto without βearsβ -bundles.
There are currently no records of sexual dimorphism.
The gray and red top of the owl is covered with a dark veil with noticeable black and white spots. The feathers and tail feathers are reddish-brown with chestnut stripes. The front disc of the owl is brownish-yellow, with a darkening going from the brown eyes to the beak of a faint yellow hue. The underside is golden brown with dark arrow-shaped spots. Long red feathered legs end in black relatively powerful claws.
The chicks do not differ in appearance from the chicks of other varieties of barn Owls. [one]
Voice
Most likely, the voice of Tyto aba thomensis is almost no different from the voice of an ordinary barn owl . [one]
Differences from other types
The allopatric barn owl Tyto alba detorta is larger and lighter in color, with a dull yellow lower body. The African subspecies Tyto alba affinis , located on the mainland, at a distance of 200 km from the island of Sao Tome, is also larger, with a white facial disc and light gray (not dark gray, like Tyto alba thomensis ) veil. [one]
Range
Owl is an endemic of the island of Sao Tome in the Gulf of Guinea , where it is quite widespread. Geographically restricted, birds may be at risk due to human intervention (such as the use of pesticides ). [one]
Habitats
He prefers to settle in shrubbery and semi-open forests, in rocky areas and near settlements. [one]
Monotypic subspecies. Currently considered as a subspecies of T.alba . The taxonomy is uncertain; molecular genetic studies are needed, on the basis of which the barn owl subspecies Tyto alba thomensis can be isolated as an independent species of Tyto thomensis . [one]
Little studied. Tyto alba thomensis is known to prey on small mammals , birds, insects , spiders , lizards and frogs . [one]