African Wood-Owl

SCI Name:  Strix woodfordii
Protonym:  Noctua Woodfordii S.Afr.Q.J.(2) -2 p.312
Taxonomy:  Strigiformes / Strigidae / Strix
Taxonomy Code:  afwowl1
Type Locality:  South Africa.
Author:  Smith, A
Publish Year:  1834
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

STRIX
(Strigidae; Ϯ Tawny Owl S. aluco) L. strix, strigis  owl, screech-owl believed to suck the blood of infants  < Gr. στριξ strix, στριγος strigos  owl; "42. STRIX.  Rostrum aduncum (absque cera) basi pennis setaceis tectum.  Caput grande auribus oculisque magnis.  Lingua bifida.  ... Strix differt a Falcone ut Phalæna a Papilione; altera enim diurna, alter nocturnus est. Noctu prædantur aviculis, muribus; die cæcutiunt; pedes lanati ne frigescant; aures amplæ ut percipiant; die aviculis opprobrio expositæ." (Linnaeus 1758); “The type of the genus Strix has by most English authors been considered to be S. flammea [= Tyto alba] of the 12^th edition of Linnaeus. This species, however, is not found in the 10^th edition, so that it is necessary to find a type among the species which are included in that edition. An examination of Linnaeus’ descriptions and synonomy shows that the Strix of the older authors is Strix stridula = S. aluco of Linnaeus, viz. the Tawny Owl, so that on the principle of Linnean tautonomy this will be the type” (BOU 1915); "Strix Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 92. Type, by tautonymy, Strix stridula Linné (Strix, prebinomial specific name in synonymy) = Strix aluco Linné." (Peters 1940, IV, 156).  This is the third diagnosed genus in avian taxonomy. Linnaeus's Strix comprised eleven  species (S. Bubo, S. scandiaca, S. Asio, S. Otus, S. Scops, S. Aluco, S. funerea, S. Nyctea, S. stridula, S. Ulula, S. passerina). The hooting cries of the Tawny Owl are commemorated, sometimes fancifully, in literature and song.
Var. Stryx.
Synon. Aluco, Bulaca, Macabra, Meseidus, Myrtha, Nyctimene, Ptynx, Scotiaptex, Syrnium, Tacitathena, Ulula.
● (syn. Tyto Ϯ Common Barn Owl T. alba) "17. STRIX.  Bec alongé, presque droit à la base; narines longitudinales, grandes; oreilles externe grandes et operculées: ongle intermédiaire crénelé sur son bord interne. . . .aigrettes nulles.   ...   GENRE XVII,  STRIX.  ...  ESPÈCE.  STRIX flammea.  L'Effraie." (de Savigny 1809): based on "Strix" of many ancient authors, "Ulula" and "Flammea" of Gessner 1555, "Aluco minor" of Willughby 1676 and Ray 1713, Strix flammea Linnaeus, 1758, "Aluco" of Brisson 1760, and Strix flammea Gmelin, 1788; "Strix Savigny Descr. Égypte Hist. Nat. vol. i. pp. 69, 113, 1809. Type (by monotypy): Strix flammea auct. = Strix alba Scopoli.  Not Strix Linné, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. p. 92, Jan. 1st, 1758." (Mathews 1927, 278).

woodfordii
Col. Emperor John Alexander Woodford (fl. 1810) British Army, bibliophile, bird art collector, whose library of over 1700 items was sold by auction in 1809 following his flight from scandal (Strix).

SUBSPECIES

African Wood-Owl (nuchalis)
SCI Name: Strix woodfordii nuchalis
nuchale / nuchalis
Mod. L. nuchalis  of the nape, nuchal  < Med. L. nuchus  nape  < Arabic nukhā'  spinal marrow.
● ex “Perruche à face rouge” of Levaillant 1801-1805 (syn. Glossopsitta pusilla).

African Wood-Owl (umbrina)
SCI Name: Strix woodfordii umbrina
umbrina
Mod. L. umbrinus  dark, shady, umber-colour  < L. umbra  shade, dark.

African Wood-Owl (nigricantior)
SCI Name: Strix woodfordii nigricantior
nigricantior
L. nigricantior, nigricantioris  blackish, swarthier  < nigrare  to be black  < niger  black.

African Wood-Owl (woodfordii)
SCI Name: Strix woodfordii woodfordii
woodfordii
Col. Emperor John Alexander Woodford (fl. 1810) British Army, bibliophile, bird art collector, whose library of over 1700 items was sold by auction in 1809 following his flight from scandal (Strix).