Himalayan Wood Owl   Strix nivicola 

Etymology:

• Strix : Latin word for screech owl believed to suck the blood of infants.
• Nivicola: Latin word nivis snow;  cola dweller

 Distribution in India: Resident of Himalayas from Himachal to Arunachal and North east India.

Description:  Size of 35–40 cm; wt. of 375–392 g, wing span of 282–320 mm. It is a medium-sized, polymorphic Strix with round head, whitish throat. The upperparts are dark brown with coarse mottling and no prominent streaks; whitish or buffy outer webs of scapulars form pale line across shoulders. The underparts are whitish to pale rufous-tawny with coarse, dark streaks and bars; rectrices have broad dark bars; irides are dark brown; bill is yellowish-grey. The plumage pattern of rufous morph is similar to that of grey morph but with rufous vs greyish colouration. The juvenile is similar to adult but with weakly barred crown and dark with white frosting.

Habitat: It is found in coniferous forests, oak forests and rocky forested ravines. It is found from 1000–2650 m.

Food Habits:  It eats insects like beetles, small mammals and small birds. It is nocturnal.

Breeding Habits: They lay Nests from late winter to spring, laying eggs in tree cavities and crevices in rocks.