Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is undergoing a continuing decline within its small population, owing to the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of its forest habitat, and therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The cover of primary rainforest only in Madagascar in 2023 has been estimated at c. 25,000 km2, based on a primary forest cover in 2000 of approximately 38,500 km2 and an annual decline of 1.86% (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2023). From this, a precautionary population estimate was calculated of 1,250 to 2,500 mature individuals, using 0.2 individuals/km2, as is the density estimated in Benamevika, which is considered optimal habitat for the species, but with the assumption that habitat in the rest of the island is not as optimal or that the species is does not occupy all available habitat at such a density as in Benamevika, with a wide range of between 1/3 and 2/3 of habitat occupied (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2023). However, were all habitat occupied, the population size would reach 3,750 mature individuals. Considering this, the population size is therefore placed in the wide but estimated band of 1,250-3,750 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species is dependent on particularly primary but also secondary forests for its survival, and although it can use open habitats for hunting, it does not breed outside of forests. Therefore, the continued destruction and degradation of these habitats through clearance for subsistence cultivation, commercial logging and uncontrolled fires, can cause a decline in the species' population size, with an increasing human population also putting pressure on the species' remaining habitat (Du Puy and Moat 1996). The current population size is therefore inferred to be experiencing a continuing decline due to the loss of suitable key habitats.
This habitat loss is supported by the estimates of forest cover loss within its range as reported by Global Forest Watch (2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), which has been estimated at approximately 19% over the species' past three generations, and the past rate of decline of the species' population is suspected to be in line with the rate of decline of forest habitat and thus placed in a past decline range of 15-25%. This forest loss is projected to continue over the next three generations at a rate approximately between 18% (based on the rate of loss over the past three generations) and 29% (based on the rate of loss over the past five years [2017-2021]) (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Therefore, again suspected to be in line with forest loss, the rate of future decline of the species' population is thus placed in the range of 15-29%, with the rate of decline having started accelerating in approximately 2012. Based on average annual forest loss rates of 2.07% between 2016-2021 (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein), the rate of forest loss within the species' range between 2016 and 2029 is estimated at between 15-29%. As the species' rate of population decline is suspected to be in step with the loss of its habitat, its rate of decline between 2016-2029 is also suspected to be within this range.
Tyto soumagnei occurs in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar, where it was formerly known from between Amber Mountain in the far north to Mantadia National Park in the centre-east, before a further site (Kalambatritra) was located 500 km further south of its previously known range (Irwin and Samonds 2002). More recently, the species was found in the extreme south-east of Madagascar, in the lowlands of Tsitongambarika, extending its presumed range considerably (R. Safford in litt. 2007, R. Thorstrom and L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2007). It is probably present in all suitably large blocks of humid evergreen forest in the east and north of Madagascar, but its nocturnal habits make it difficult to detect. Future surveys may reveal it to be less rare than currently thought (Morris and Hawkins 1998, ZICOMA 1999), and it has been found to be relatively common at Bemanevika New Protected Area at 1,500-1,650 m (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012), with a population of approximately 30 individuals in the area (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2023).
The species occurs in and adjacent to humid evergreen forest from sea level to 2,000 m (Morris and Hawkins 1998, ZICOMA 1999), but has also been recorded in an area dominated by dry deciduous forest (van Esbroeck 2006, Cardiff and Goodman 2008). It hunts at night in somewhat open areas in or near primary forest, perching in trees at the forest edge. Although formerly believed to occur only in undisturbed rainforest (Langrand 1990), it has been recorded in degraded/secondary forest-edge vegetation and also hunts over open, human-altered habitat adjacent to forest, including rice-paddies and slash-and-burn cultivation (Thorstrom and Réné de Roland 1997, Thorstrom et al. 1997), and it may require both forest and open areas (and so may be absent from large areas of forest interior [S. Mitchell in litt. 2009]). In Masoala, it ranged over 210 ha (Thorstrom et al. 1997). Its diet is predominantly small native mammals, in contrast to T. alba which feeds mostly on introduced rat Rattus spp. (Goodman and Thorstrom 1998) outside primary forest. Tsingy tufted-tailed rats Eliurus antsingy constituted almost 50% of total prey mass of individuals in dry forest at Ankarana (northern Madagascar), and the species here also consumed insects, frogs and geckos (Cardiff and Goodman 2008). The first nest recorded by scientists was found in September 1995, 23 m above ground, in a natural tree-cavity in an isolated native tree Weinmannia, 500 m from the edge of the main forest block; clutch-size was probably two (two young successfully fledged) (Thorstrom and Réné de Roland 1997). It has also been recorded roosting on rock ledges and in cave entrances (van Esbroeck 2006, Cardiff and Goodman 2008). The species may have been overlooked previously for three reasons: a) it is reclusive and strictly nocturnal; b) it is mistaken for T. alba; and c) it occurs patchily and at low densities (Irwin and Samonds 2002, R. Thorstrom and L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2007).
Deforestation, mainly for subsistence slash-and-burn cultivation but also for commercial logging, continues to destroy the species's main evergreen forest habitat. Uncontrolled use of fire, often as a result of poor farming practices, is also a major cause of deforestation. Much of the eastern coastal plain has either already been cleared or is covered by highly degraded forest; remaining habitat is under pressure from the increasing human population (Du Puy and Moat 1996). Climate change may also pose a threat to its habitat with 72% of its ecological niche projected to be lost in the 50 year period 2000-2050 due to climate change alone (Andriamasimanana and Cameron 2013). The species has been recorded as caught and eaten for subsistence purposes on a very rare basis (Campera et al. 2019). It is also suspected to be caught and parts sold and used for traditional medicinal purposes when confused with Common Barn-owl Tyto alba (Mikkola 2023) .
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. Several sites where it has been recorded are protected areas - Mantadia National Park, Marotandrano Special Reserve, Masoala National Park, Montagne d'Ambre National Park, Tsaratanana Strict Reserve and Zahamena National Park - where it probably occurs at low density (ZICOMA 1999). Four individuals are being radio-tracked and monitored at Bemanevika New Protected Area (L.-A. Réné de Roland in litt. 2012).
30 cm. Medium-sized owl. Variable rich orange-buff upperparts (including crown), marked with sparse black spots especially on crown, coverts and flight feathers. Rather uniform pale orange underparts, with paler facial ruff and belly. Pale bill, grey legs. Similar spp. From Barn Owl T. alba by smaller size, rounder facial disk, overall rich orange colouration (especially on breast). Voice Call usually strongly descending in tone (like T. alba).
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Contributors
Deliry, C., Hawkins, F., Mitchell, S., Réné De Roland, L.A., Safford, R., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Thorstrom, R. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/madagascar-red-owl-tyto-soumagnei on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.