One of the most exciting sounds to come from our woods and forests
belongs our resident owl—the Spotted Wood-Owl. This bird is twice the size of
the Brown Hawk-Owl and emits a loud and powerful coughing sound somewhat like
the barking of a dog. It gives deep quavering call wrrrrooh....repeat.
This sound has been described as the "most exciting" and also the
"most eerie frightening sound" of the forest in the night, and we can
well believe that the Spotted Woods call has given rise to stories of supernatural
happenings.
It's not too difficult to hear the Spotted Wood, as it prefers the edge of the
forest and woods and also tends to stick to the same neck of the woods. It also
calls at quite specific times in the twilight hours of roughly between 6.30pm and
7.30pm, as if to announce that it is now up and about. The Spotted Wood is a
large owl that is generally brownish with whitish spots all over the upper
parts of its body and, like the Brown Hawk, it also does not have ear-tufts.
Can sometimes be seen in mangrove forest, plantations and fringes of wooded
park.
This lifer of my shot in Penang bird park