Response to
“Discovery of a possible hybrid of the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Athene blewitti and
Spotted Owlet Athene brama(Aves: Strigiformes) from northern Maharashtra,
India” by Pande et al.
Farah Ishtiaq
Wildlife
Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
Current address: 2 Dutter End, Gamlingay, Sandy,SG19 3EY
Email: farahishtiaq@yahoo.com
Date of publication (online): 26 May
2011
Date of publication (print): 26 May
2011
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893
(print)
Manuscript details:
Ms # o2776
Received 27 April 2011
Citation: Ishtiaq, F.(2011). Response to
“Discovery of a possible hybrid of the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Athene blewitti and
Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Aves:Strigiformes) from northern Maharashtra, India” by Pande et al. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(5): 1798.
Copyright: ©
Farah Ishtiaq 2011. Creative
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium
for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate
credit to the authors and the source of publication.
The recently published article by Pandeet al. (2011) in the JoTT explores speculation on
natural hybridization between two closely-related species of owlets using behavioural and phenotypic data. I am left unconvinced by the data presented to verify the
hybridization. It is interesting
to read that the authors observed a family of owlets with “intermediate”
plumages, behaviours and vocalizations defending the
territory with a recently fledged young owlet, concluding that it was a fertile
hybrid of the two species. A
rather too brief description on plumage and behaviourhas been given along with a comparison of vocalization duration but no
information at all on “intermediate” vocalizations. Given that the call of both Forest
Owlet and Spotted Owlet is very distinctive, it would be useful to know the
“intermediate” call of the observed family. In addition, the Forest Owlet’s call varies during the
breeding season, especially when accompanied by a juvenile and is described in
detail by Ishtiaq & Rahmani(2005). The “intermediate”
vocalization mentioned however needs further clarification. The authors also mention
that “To date, juvenile owlets have not been fully characterized”. The
juveniles of the Forest Owlet are remarkably similar to the adult birds except
a bit more spotted brown crown but certainly do
not look like Spotted Owlet (see Ishtiaq 2000 for
photograph and Ishtiaq & Rahmani2005 for details on Forest Owlet, and Kumar 1980 for Spotted Owlet). Finally, based on video 2 referred to
as ‘hybird’, it appears to be a Spotted Owlet, not
showing any features of Forest Owlet or if it does then these
need to be highlighted. Also, authors observed and filmed the “hybrid” female engaged in
extra-pair copulation (EPC) with the neighbouringmale Forest Owlet. I believe this
video would be more relevant to demonstrate the interaction between the two
species.
Finally, I am surprised to see that the authors still consider the
Forest Owlet to be in the Athene genus. The Forest Owlet has long been placed in the genus Athene with
which the specimens show strong superficial resemblance. However, based on the osteological evidence (BirdLifeInternational 2001), and behavioural observations
(Rasmussen & Ishtiaq 1999; Ishtiaq& Rahmani 2005), it’splacement in its own genus Heteroglaux, as originally suggested by Hume (1873) has been considered as
well justified.
References
BirdLife International (2001). Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLifeInternational
Kumar, S.T. (1980). The life-history of the Spotted Owlet (Athene brama brama Temminck)
in Andhra Pradesh. Raptor Research Centre, Hyderabad. Publication No. 4.
Ishtiaq, F.
2000. Enigma
of the Forest Owlet. Sanctuary Asia XX(3): 32–39.
Ishtiaq, F. & A.R. Rahmani(2005).The Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti: vocalization, breeding biology and
conservation. Ibis 147: 197–205.
Pande, S.A., A.P. Pawashe, R. Kasambe & R. Yosef (2011). Discovery of a possible hybrid of the
Critically Endangered Forest Owlet Athene blewitti and Spotted Owlet Athene brama (Aves: Strigiformes)
from northern Maharashtra, India. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 3(4): 1727–1730.
Rasmussen, P.C.
& F. Ishtiaq (1999). Vocalizations
and behaviour of the Forest Owlet Athene (Heteroglaux) blewitti. Forktail 15: 61–65.