Editing Laughing owl

{{Short description|Extinct species of owl}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=October 2017}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Laughing owl
| image = Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies.jpg
| image_caption = Live ''N. a. albifacies'' specimen photographed between 1889 and 1910
| status = EX
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2024 |title=''Ninox albifacies'' |volume=2024 |page=e.T22689496A246178545 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22689496A246178545.en |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
| status2 = EX
| status2_system = NZTCS
| status2_ref = <ref name ="NZTCS">{{cite web |title=''Sceloglaux albifacies rufifacies''. NZTCS |url=https://nztcs.org.nz/nztcs-species/11094 |website=nztcs.org.nz |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref name ="NZTCS2">{{cite web |title=''Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies''. NZTCS |url=https://nztcs.org.nz/nztcs-species/11095 |website=nztcs.org.nz |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref>
| extinct = 1914
| genus = Ninox
| species = albifacies
| authority = ([[George Robert Gray|Gray, GR]], 1844)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = * ''N. a. albifacies''<br /><small>('''South Island laughing owl''')</small>
* ''N. a. rufifacies'' <br /><small>('''North Island laughing owl''')</small>
| synonyms = ''Sceloglaux albifacies''<br/>'' Ieraglaux albifacies''<br/>''Athene albifacies''
| range_map = SceloglauxAlbifaciesIUCNver2019 1.png
| range_map_caption = Range of ''N. albifacies'' {{leftlegend|#FF0000|Extinct|outline=gray}}
}}

The '''laughing owl''' ('''''Ninox albifacies'''''), also known as '''''whēkau''''', the '''laughing jackass''',<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLintock |first=A. H. |title=The History of Otago |publisher=Capper Press |year=1975 |edition=2nd |location=Christchurch |publication-date=1975 |page=22 |lang=en}}</ref> or the '''white-faced owl''', is an [[Extinction|extinct]] species of [[owl]] that was [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Zealand]]. Plentiful when European settlers arrived in New Zealand, its scientific description was published in 1845, but it was largely or completely extinct by 1914. The [[species]] was traditionally considered to belong to the [[monotypic]] genus ''Sceloglaux''   [[Johann Jakob Kaup|Kaup]], 1848 ("scoundrel owl", probably because of the mischievous-sounding calls), although recent genetic studies indicate that it belongs with the [[boobook owl]]s in the genus ''[[Ninox]]''.

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Sceloglaux albifacies rufifacies.jpg|thumb|upright|''N. a. rufifacies'']]
The laughing owl was originally described as ''Athene albifacies'' by [[George Robert Gray]] in 1844, based on a specimen from Waikouaiti, South Island.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Richardson |first1=John |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/31178 |title=The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, during the years 1839 to 1843. By authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty |last2=Richardson |first2=John |last3=Gray |first3=John Edward |last4=Ross |first4=James Clark |last5=Erebus (Ship) |last6=Terror (Ship) |date=1844 |publisher=E. W. Janson |volume=1 |location=London}}</ref> The type specimen is held at the British Museum (Reg. no. 1845.1.13.5).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Warren |first=Rachel L.M. |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35377 |title=Type-specimens of birds in the British Museum (Natural History) |publisher=British Museum (Natural History) |year=1966 |volume=1 |location=London}}</ref>

The species was later transferred by [[Johann Jakob Kaup]] to other genera, first to the [[Monotypic taxon|monotypic]] genus ''Sceloglaux'' (as ''S. albifacies'') in 1848 and later to ''Ieraglaux'' (as ''I. albifacies'') in 1852.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sceloglaux Albifacies*. — (Laughing-Owl.) {{!}} NZETC |url=https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-BulBird-t1-g1-t1-body-d0-d50.html |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz}}</ref> Recent genetic studies now include it with the [[boobook owl]]s in the genus ''[[Ninox]],'' as ''N. albifacies.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Wood |first1=Jamie R. |last2=Mitchell |first2=Kieren J. |last3=Scofield |first3=R. Paul |last4=De Pietri |first4=Vanesa L. |last5=Rawlence |first5=Nicolas J. |last6=Cooper |first6=Alan |date=August 2016 |title=Phylogenetic relationships and terrestrial adaptations of the extinct laughing owl, ''Sceloglaux albifacies'' (Aves: Strigidae) |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |language=en |doi=10.1111/zoj.12483 |issn=0024-4082}}</ref>

Two subspecies of laughing owl have been described. In the [[North Island]], specimens of the smaller subspecies ''N. a. rufifacies'' were allegedly collected from the forest districts of [[Mount Taranaki]] (1856) and the [[Wairarapa]] (1868); the unclear history of the latter and the eventual disappearance of both led to suspicions that the bird may not have occurred in the North Island at all. This theory has been refuted, however, after ample [[subfossil]] bones of the species were found in the North Island. Sight records exist from [[Porirua]] and [[Karaka, New Zealand|Te Karaka]]; according to [[Māori people|Māori]] tradition, the species last occurred in [[Te Urewera]].

In the [[South Island]], the larger subspecies ''N. a. albifacies'' inhabited low rainfall districts, including [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], Canterbury, and [[Otago]]. They were also found in the central mountains and possibly [[Fiordland]]. Specimens of ''N. a. albifacies'' were collected from [[Stewart Island/Rakiura]] in or around 1881.

== Scientific specimens ==
[[File:OR030062 Ninox albifacies Te Papa 1509641 375585.jpg|thumb|Ninox albifacies egg, specimen held at Te Papa]]There are 57 body and 17 egg specimens in public collections.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Worthy |first=Trevor |date=1997-01-01 |title=A survey of historical Laughing Owl (Sceloglaux albifacies) specimens in museum collections |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124220899 |journal=Notornis |volume=44 |pages=241–252}}</ref> Of these, either the specimen at [[Naturhistorisches Museum|NHMW]] )(no. 50.809) or one at the [[Universidad de Concepción]] is the likely type of ''N. a. rufifacies''.<ref name=":1" /> Additional specimens are located at [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] (probably [[Harvard Museum of Natural History]]) and [[Edinburgh]] ([[Royal Museum]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Greenway |first=James |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124221040 |title=Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World |date=1967 |publisher=Dover Publications |isbn=978-0-486-21869-4 |lang=en}}</ref>

== Phylogeny ==
[[File:Laughing Owls and Moreporks.jpg|thumb|Laughing owls and moreporks in a taxidermy exhibition, Burton Brothers photographic studio, 1889]]
A 2016 study of the laughing owl's [[Mitochondrial DNA|mitogenome]] concluded that the species does not belong to the monotypic genus ''Sceloglaux'' as previously thought, but instead belong to the genus ''[[Ninox]]''.<ref name=":0" /> The analysis indicated that the laughing owl may be a [[Sister group|sister taxon]] to the ''Ninox'' clade containing the [[barking owl]], [[Sumba boobook]], and [[morepork]], the latter of which shared New Zealand with the laughing owl.<ref name=":0" />

== Description ==
[[File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.1492 - Sceloglaux albifacies Gray, G.R., 1844 - Strigidae - skin specimen.jpeg|upright|thumb|Male laughing owl mount from the collection of Naturalis Biodiversity Centre]]
The laughing owl's [[plumage]] was yellowish-brown striped with dark brown. White straps were on the scapulars, and occasionally the hind neck. Mantle feathers were edged with white. The wings and tail had light-brown bars. The tarsus had yellowish to reddish-buff feathers. The facial disc was white behind and below the eyes, fading to grey with brown stripes towards the centre. Some birds were more rufous, with a brown facial disk; this was at first attributed to subspecific differences, but is probably better related to individual variation. Males were thought to be more often of the richly coloured morph (e.g. the [[Linz]] specimen [[Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum|OÖLM]] 1941/433). The eyes were very dark orange. Its length was {{cvt|35.5|–|40|cm|in}} and wing length {{cvt|26.4|cm|in}}, with males being smaller than females. Weight was around 600&nbsp;g.

===Vocalisations===
The call of the laughing owl has been described as "a loud cry made up of a series of dismal shrieks frequently repeated". The species was given its name because of this sound. Other descriptions of the call were: "A peculiar barking noise ... just like the barking of a young [[dog]]"; "Precisely the same as two men 'cooeying' to each other from a distance"; "A melancholy hooting note", or a high-pitched chattering, only heard when the birds were on the wing and generally on dark and drizzly nights or immediately preceding rain. Various whistling, chuckling and mewing notes were observed from a captive bird.

One correspondent claimed that laughing owls would be attracted by [[accordion]] play.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buller |first=Walter Lawry |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124234076 |title=Supplement to the 'Birds of New Zealand' |date=1905-01-01 |volume=2 |lang=en}}</ref>

==Ecology and behaviour==
[[File:Keulemans Laughing Owl.jpg|upright|thumb|''N. a. albifacies'' by [[John Gerrard Keulemans]], drawn after living specimens owned by Walter Rothschild]]
Laughing owls generally occupied rocky, low-rainfall areas and also were found in forest districts in the North Island. Their diet was diverse, encompassing a wide range of [[prey]] items, from beetles and [[wētā]] up to birds and [[gecko]]s of more than 250&nbsp;g, and later on rats and mice. Laughing owls were apparently ground feeders, chasing prey on foot in preference to hunting on the wing.<ref name="HW1996">{{Cite journal|last1=Holdaway|first1=R.N.|last2=Worthy|first2=T.H.|date=1996|title=Diet and biology of the laughing owl ''Sceloglaux albifacies'' (Aves: Strigidae) on Takaka Hill, Nelson, New Zealand|journal=Journal of Zoology|volume=239: 545-572.|issue=3 |pages=545–572 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05942.x|doi-access=free}}</ref> Knowledge of their diet, and how that diet 
changed over time, is preserved in [[fossil]] and subfossil deposits of their [[owl pellet|pellets]]. These pellets have been a great help to the [[paleobiology|palaeobiological]] concentrations of otherwise poorly preserved small bones: "Twenty-eight species of bird, a [[tuatara]], three frogs, at least four geckos, a skink, two bats, and two fish contribute to the species diversity" found in a [[Gouland Downs]] roosting site's pellets.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Worthy, Trevor H. |year=2001|title= A fossil vertebrate fauna accumulated by laughing owls (''Sceloglaux albifacies'') on the Gouland Downs, northwest Nelson, South Island |journal=Notornis|volume=48|issue=4|pages= 223–233 |url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_48_4_224.pdf}}</ref>

The owls' diet generally reflected the communities of small animals in the area, taking [[prion (bird)|prions]] (small [[seabird]]s) where they lived near colonies, ''[[Coenocorypha]]'' snipe, [[kākāriki]] and even large [[earthworm]]s. Once [[Pacific rat]]s were introduced to New Zealand and began to reduce the number of native prey items, the laughing owl was able to switch to eating them, instead. They were still relatively common when [[European ethnic groups|European]] settlers arrived.
Being quite large, they were also able to deal with the introduced European rats that had caused the [[extinction]] of so much of their prey; however, the [[stoat]]s introduced to control feral [[rabbit]]s and feral [[cat]]s were too much for the species.

Individuals of a [[Ischnocera|bird louse]] of the genus ''[[Strigiphilus]]'' were found to parasitize laughing owls.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Pilgrim, R. L. C. |author2= Palma, R. L. |year=1982|title= A list of the chewing lice (Insecta: Mallophaga) from birds in New Zealand|journal=Notornis|volume=29|issue=(Supplement) |pages=1–33|url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_29_sup.pdf}}</ref>

===Reproduction===

Breeding began in September or October. The nests were lined with dried grass and were on bare ground, in rocky ledges or fissures, or under boulders. Two white, roundish eggs were laid, measuring {{cvt|44-51|by|38|–|43|mm|in}}. Incubation took 25 days, with the male feeding the female on the nest.

==Extinction==
By 1880, the species was becoming rare. Only a few specimens were collected due to its location. Soon, the last recorded specimen was found dead at [[Bluecliffs Station]] in [[Canterbury, New Zealand]] on July 5, 1914.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Worthy, Trevor H. |year=1997|title= A survey of historical Laughing Owl (''Sceloglaux albifacies'') specimens in museum collections|journal=Notornis|volume=44|issue=4|pages= 241–252 |url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_44_4_241.pdf}}
</ref> Unconfirmed reports have been made since then; the last (unconfirmed) North Island records were in 1925 and 1926, at the Wairaumoana branch of [[Lake Waikaremoana]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Paul |first1=R. St |last2=McKenzie |first2=H. R. |date=1977-01-01 |title=A bushman's seventeen years of noting birds. Part F - Notes on other native birds (Conclusion of series) |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124239427 |journal=Notornis |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=65–74}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Blackburn |first=A. |date=1982-01-01 |title=A 1927 record of the Laughing Owl |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124241071 |journal=Notornis |lang=en |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=79}}</ref> There are reports of a laughing owl in the Pakahi near [[Ōpōtiki]] in the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parkinson |first=Brian |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124241524 |title=The travelling naturalist around New Zealand |date=1989-01-01 |publisher=Century Hutchinson |isbn=978-1-86941-059-9 |lang=en}}</ref> An unidentified bird was heard flying overhead and giving "a most unusual weird cry which might almost be described as maniacal" at [[Saddle Hill, New Zealand|Saddle Hill]], [[Fiordland]], in February 1952,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Hall-Jones, John |year=1960|title= Rare Fiordland birds|journal=Notornis|volume=8|issue=7|pages= 171–172 |url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_8_7.pdf}}</ref> and laughing owl egg fragments were apparently found in Canterbury in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Williams, G. R. |author2= Harrison, M. |year=1972|title= The Laughing Owl ''Sceloglaux albifacies'' (Gray. 1844): A general survey of a near-extinct species|journal=Notornis|volume=19|issue=1|pages= 4–19 |url=http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_19_1.pdf}}</ref>

Extinction was caused by persecution (mainly for specimens), land use changes, and the [[introduced species|introduction]] of predators such as [[feral cats|cats]] and [[stoat]]s. Until the late 20th century the species' disappearance was generally accepted to be due to competition by introduced predators for the [[kiore]], or Pacific rat, a favorite prey of the laughing owl (an idea originally advanced by [[Walter Buller]]). However, since the kiore is itself an introduced animal, the laughing owl originally preyed on small birds, reptiles, and bats, and later probably used introduced mice, as well. Direct predation on this unwary and gentle-natured bird seems much more likely to have caused the species' extinction.

== Specimen gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="170px">
File:Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center_-_RMNH.AVES.110070_-_Sceloglaux_albifacies_albifacies_(Gray,_1844)_-_Laughing_Owl_-_specimen_-_lateral_view.jpeg
File:Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center_-_RMNH.AVES.110069_-_Sceloglaux_albifacies_albifacies_(Gray,_1844)_-_Laughing_Owl_-_specimen_-_lateral_view.jpeg
File:OR001778_Ninox_albifacies_albifacies_Te_Papa_630296_263370.jpg
File:OR010143_Ninox_albifacies_cf_albifacies_Te_Papa_630299_151892.jpg
File:OR030061_Ninox_albifacies_Te_Papa_1509640_375584.jpg
</gallery>

== Illustration gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="170px">
File:Keulemans,_John_Gerrard,_1842-1912_-Sceloglaux_albifacies._J._G._Keulemans_del._Mintern_Bros_Imp._(London,_1876)_(21421090028).jpg
File:Keulemans,_John_Gerrard_1842-1912_-Morepork,_Spiloglaux_novae-zealandiae;_Laughing_owl,_Sceloglaux_novae-zelandiae._(One-half_natural_size)._-_J._G._Keulemans_delt._and_lith._(Plate_XX._1888)._(21289771031).jpg
File:The_zoology_of_the_voyage_of_the_H.M.S._Erebus_and_Terror_(6257851283).jpg
File:Bird_illustration_by_Elizabeth_Gould_for_Birds_of_Australia,_digitally_enhanced_from_rawpixel%27s_own_facsimile_book602.jpg
File:Morepork_(Ruru)_and_Laughing_owl_(Whekau).jpg
</gallery>

==Further reading==
*Fuller, Errol (2000): ''Extinct Birds (2nd ed.)''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York. {{ISBN|0-19-850837-9}}
*Lewis, Deane P. (2016): [http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Sceloglaux&species=albifacies The Owl Pages: Laughing Owl ''Sceloglaux albifacies'']. Revision as of 2016-01-29.
*Worthy, Trevor H. & Holdaway, Richard N. (2002): ''The Lost World of the Moa''. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. {{ISBN|0-253-34034-9}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* [https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/taxon/12341 Images of Laughing Owls] in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
* [http://www.wingspan.co.nz/extinct_birds_of_prey_new_zealand_laughing_owl.html Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust]
* ''Ninox albifacies'' discussed on [[Radio New Zealand|RNZ]] ''[[Critter of the Week]]'', [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018914867/critter-of-the-week-wheku-laughing-owl-hakoke-or-korehengi 10 November 2023]

{{Birds of New Zealand}}
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q844773|from2=Q117254704}}

[[Category:Ninox|laughing owl]]
[[Category:Extinct birds of New Zealand]]
[[Category:1914 in the environment]]
[[Category:Bird extinctions since 1500]]
[[Category:Species made extinct by human activities]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1844|laughing owl]]
[[Category:Taxa named by George Robert Gray|laughing owl]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Species that are or were threatened by specimen collection]]