Aegotheles tatei

The body length is about 25 cm ^[1] (wing length - 138 mm ^[2] ) and is noticeably shorter than that of other large representatives of the family - the large ( Aegotheles insignis ) and the Moluccan owl goats ( Aegotheles crinifrons ) ^{[3] [2]} . White spots-markers are also smaller ^[1] , especially in the lower part and above the eyes, where they may be completely absent. The plumage under the wing is tan (for a large owl goat, it is blackish-brown) ^{[1] [2]} . Scientists note that this species has the shortest metatarsus among all owl goats, the plumage of the throat and ears are stiff, the feathers do not curl at the ends, but remain prickly. White markers with a diameter of 1-2 mm form a pattern on the head and are scattered on the back ^{[3] [4]} . It is also characterized by white stripes on the tail feathers in the upper part of the tail ^{[3] [2] [4]} , which in general are not characteristic of owl goats ^[5] . American ornithologist Thane K. Pratt also noted that adult birds have almost no dark thin stripes, on the chest and abdomen they are whitish, with dark tips ^[3] . All known birds correspond to the red morph ^{[3] [2]} , although Pratt did not exclude the existence of a brown morph. Vibrissas are represented by a pair of raised and sharp superciliary tufts , three pairs of half-bristles on the frenum ( loral semibristle ), two pairs of standard bristles on the bridle ( loral bristles ) and a pair of half-bristles in the corners of the mouth ( rictal semibristles ) ^[3] .

Like the rest of the family, Aegotheles tatei are mostly nocturnal ^[6] . Vocalization has not yet been described, but in 2008, near the Elevala River, an alarm sound signal was recorded, as well as a signal indicating the territory ^{[1] [4]} . These calls are significantly different from the known sound signals of owl goats. Later, bird calls were recorded near the Kali Muyu River ^[4] . Belgian ornithologist Philippe Verbelen noted that birds begin to emit sound signals 30 minutes after sunset, respond to a recorded recording only once or twice, and then shut up for 15 minutes. In this case, the birds still move to the signal source ^[4] .

Aegotheles tatei lives mainly in the lowlands of New Guinea ^[1] in such countries as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea ^[7] . The area of ​​the range is 53,600 km² ^[7] and includes the headwaters of the Fly River in the center of the island, Amazon Bay in the southeast, the Eleva River near the town of Kiung, was recently discovered in the western part of the island in the Kali Muyu River Basin ^{[1 ] [4]} . The height above sea level is 10–125 m ^[7] , separating this taxon from the sister large goat owl, which lives at an altitude of 1100 m and above ^[3] . Apparently, birds are sedentary ^[1] .

Until recently, the species was known only in four specimens from museum collections ^{[1] [4]} , obtained in virgin forests near reservoirs at a distance of about 1000 km from each other ^{[3] [4] [7]} . In 1936-1937, an expedition to the southern forests of New Guinea took place under the leadership and patronage of Richard Archbold (1907-1976), during which Archbold, Canadian ornithologist Austin Lumer Rand ( 1905-1992 ) and American theriologist George Henry Hamilton Tate (1894-1953) ) two specimens of a new subspecies of the large owl goat dairy were discovered in the upper reaches of the Fly River ^[2] . In 1969, bird specimens were discovered near Amazon Bay in 1969 ^{[3] [4] [7]}

Verbelen found birds in 2014 in the forests of the Western province , including areas where deforestation was carried out ^{[4] [7]} , however, in the open marshy areas he studied near Tanahmera at an altitude of about 30 m above sea level and more hilly areas near the villages of Mindiptana ( Mindiptana ) and Varopko ( Waropko ) ( 67–130 m ), where the Wallace owl ( Aegotheles wallacii ) was noted, no birds were observed. At the same time, Verbelen drew attention to the fact that in the region of the Eleval River they coexist on the same territory ^[4] .

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies this species as a species that does not have enough data to assess the threat ^{[1] [7]} , primarily due to the lack of information on bird vocalization, based on which conclusions could be drawn about their prevalence ^[4] . The areas of the island in which Aegotheles tatei were recorded do not undergo intensive felling, that is, there is apparently no direct threat to the species ^[1] . Otherwise, on the basis of an extremely limited range, birds can be classified as a threatened species ^{[4] [7]} .

Features of hunting and nutrition are not described ^[1] . Apparently, birds feed on insects that they hunt at night ^[8] .

There is no information about the reproduction of this species. The plumage of young birds is not described ^[1] . All known museum specimens belong apparently to adult birds ^[3] .

The taxon was first described by the Canadian ornithologist Austin Lumer Rand (1905-1982) in 1941 ^{[1] [2] [10]} as a subspecies of the Great Owl Goat ( Aegotheles insignis ) - Aegotheles insignis tatei , while Rand noted that the birds are significantly different from the remaining two subspecies of the great owl goat-dairy ^[2] . The subspecies was named in honor of the American theriologist George Henry Hamilton Tate (1894-1953) ^[3] . American ornithologist Thane Pratt singled out this subspecies as a separate species of Aegotheles tatei based on his research published in 2000 and supported by most modern scientists ^{[3] [4] [9]} . The large owl goat, which lives in the mountains of New Guinea, despite the difference in size and other morphological differences ^[4] , is sister to this taxon ^[9] .

Along with other large owl goats - large ( Aegotheles insignis ) and Moluccan ( Aegotheles crinifrons ) - Aegotheles tatei belongs to the group of "least developed" species. They are characterized by a wide and rather strong beak, a similar red color of plumage, especially on the shoulder blades and in the lower part of the body, straight tail feathers with slightly pointed tips and elongated feathers above the ears ^[11] . Some scientists distinguish them in a separate genus Euaegotheles ^{[11] [9]} .

• Holyoak DT, de Juana E., Sharpe CJ Spangled Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles tatei ) . Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (July 4, 2016). Date of treatment April 5, 2019.
• Wells D. Family Aegothelidae (English) . Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (10 September 2014). Date of treatment March 31, 2019.