Ninox mindorensis Grant, Ibis (1896), 463; Sharpe, Hand-List
(1899), 1, 291; McGregor, Bull. Philippine Mus. (1904), 4, 17;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 47.
Mindoro (Whitehead, McGregor, Porter).
Adult.--In color and color pattern very similar to Ninox spilonota
but very much smaller; it also resembles N. spilocephala in size
and pattern of upper parts but differs from the latter in having the
breast and abdomen cross-barred instead of boldly striped. Both rufous
and light phases occur in this species.
Male.--Iris yellow; bill, cere, and legs greenish; nails dark
brown. Length, 225; wing, 167; tail, 88; culmen from base, 20;
tarsus, 30.
Female.--Length, 220; wing, 158; tail, 78; culmen from base, 20;
tarsus, 23.
"An adult female of this little Mindoro hawk owl was obtained in
the lowlands, and is nearly allied to N. spilocephala Tweeddale,
from Mindanao and Basilan, resembling that species in having the top
of the head and nape barred with buff. It may, however, be at once
recognized by having the whole of the under parts, including the
belly and flanks, tawny-buff, transversely barred with brown, while
in the female of N. spilocephala, though the breast is generally like
that of the present species, the belly and flanks are always white,
with longitudinal reddish brown shaft-stripes. Length, 203; wing,
152; tail, 76; tarsus, 28.
"I have of course carefully compared this species with Bourns and
Worcester's description of N. spilonotus, specimens of which were
obtained in Mindoro, but the much smaller size of this bird serves
to at once distinguish it." (Grant.)