Two New Owl Species Found in the Philippines; Growls and Songs Helped Discovery (VIDEO)

A difference in the barks and growls of an owl has led researchers to announce that it is in fact a new type of species.

Published in the Journal of Asian Orinthology's Forktail, the confirmation of the new species of owl took years but was worth the wait, according to Michigan State University's Assistant Professor of Zoology Pam Rasmussen.

The assistant professor is also the lead author in the study.

Rasmussen's two new species of owl are the Camiguin Hawk-owl (Ninox leventisi) and the Cebu Hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi).

"More than 15 years ago, we realized that new subspecies of Ninox hawk-owls existed in the Philippines," Rasmussen said. "But it wasn't until last year that we obtained enough recordings that we could confirm that they were not just subspecies, but two new species of owls."

The Camiguin Hawk-owl was found on the small island of Camiguin Sur. The location is not far from Mindanao where other species of owls live.

The Camiguin Hawk-owl differed from other owls based on physical characteristics and its growls. During the night, its growls are recorded to be longer than a traditional owl that makes shorter growls.

"The owls don't learn their songs, which are genetically programmed in their DNA and are used to attract mates or defend their territory; so if they're very different, they must be new species," said Rasmussen.

Another distinction is the eyes, the only type of owl to have blue-gray eyes.

The second owl, Cabu Hawk-owl, was at first thought to have been extinct as the Cebu forest was victim of deforestation. The growl of the Cabu Hawk-owl also helped Rasmussen discover its existence.

According to Rasmussen, "When we first heard the songs of both owls, we were amazed because they were so distinctly different that we realized they were new species."

To further confirm the existence of the two new species of owl, BirdLife International, the Oriental Bird Club, Birdtour Asia, and the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. assisted in the process.