The Northern White-Faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) is a large nocturnal bird.
The Northern White-Faced Owl has grey and white body feathers, streaked with black, with a white face. Its has a black rim around its face. It has pale-yellow legs with strong claws. Its eyes are large and orange-brown.
It measures about 38 centimetres (15 inches) tall.
The Northern White-Faced Owl is native to sub-Saharan Africa, but not in southern Africa.
It is nocturnal, active at night. It is arboreal, living in trees.
It eats rats and mice, and small mammals.
To hide from predators, it pulls its feathers inwards and elongates its body to make it look thinner. It also narrows its eyes.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM