Palau Owl

SCI Name:  Pyrroglaux podargina
Protonym:  Noctua podargina Proc.Zool.Soc.London Pt1 p.90
Taxonomy:  Strigiformes / Strigidae / Pyrroglaux
Taxonomy Code:  palowl2
Type Locality:  Palau Islands.
Author:  Hartlaub & Finsch
Publish Year:  1872
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PYRROGLAUX
(Strigidae; Ϯ Palau Owl P. podargina) Gr. πυρρος purrhos  flame-coloured, red   < πυρ pur, πυρος puros  fire; γλαυξ glaux, γλαυκος glaukos  little owl; "Noctua podargina HARTLAUB and FINSCH, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 90 (1872— Pelew Is.), which is an endemic species of the Pelew Islands, has long been considered to belong to the genera Ninox, Scops, or Otus, but I have recently found that this bird can not belong to any of the known genera. Therefore, I give the following generic name:  Pyrroglaux, gen. nov.  Generic characters.— Small owl without eartufts. Facial disks are very much reduced, only the feathers of lores disposing radially. Wings are much rounded, fifth and sixth primaries almost equal in length are the longest. Only ten rectrices (18 specimens were examined). Body feathers are very soft, those of the juvenile are very loose structure, being down-like. Tarsi are bare, excepting some feathers growing along the upper half of the front. Toes are completely bare from either feathers or bristles.  Type.— Noctua podargina HARTLAUB & FINSCH. The genus is at present monotypic.   Notes.— Until the present this bird was considered to be allied to the genus Ninox, but this does not seem to be the case, for the juvenile plumage of this bird is quite loose in structure and the feathers have fine lateral stripes, which are widely different from the colour of its adult plumage, and somewhat like those of the juvenile of the genus Otus, while the juvenile plumage of the Ninox and its allies (Spiloglaux, Hieracoglaux, Cephaloptynx, and Rhabdoglaux) has the colour and the structure much like those of their adult plumage. The genus seems rather to ally with the genus Otus as mentioned above, but it differs from the latter in these points that the former has no eartufts; has the facial disks which are much reduced; has the tail composed of only ten rectrices; and has the tarsi and toes which are bare from feathers and bristles. These characters are, I think, sufficient as the generic character which divides this genus from all known genera." (Yamashina 1938). The unusual Palau Owl is a small, dark rufous bird with bare legs and obsolete ear-tufts.

podargina
Mod. L. podarginus  frogmouth-like  < genus Podargus Vieillot, 1818, frogmouth; alluding to the mottled plumage, pale bill, and hairless, half-naked tarsi and feet of the Palau Scops Owl (Pyrroglaux).