The Itombwe Masked Owl is an exceptionally rare and poorly known species of barn owl, endemic to a very restricted area in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is considered critically endangered.
Where to spot
Known only from the Itombwe Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, within montane rainforests.
How to spot
No current reliable observation methods due to its extreme rarity. Any potential observation would require extensive, dedicated nocturnal fieldwork in its specific habitat.
When to spot
Strictly nocturnal. Effectively unobservable in the wild due to extreme rarity and lack of confirmed sightings.
Where to spot
Known only from the Itombwe Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, within montane rainforests.
How to spot
No current reliable observation methods due to its extreme rarity. Any potential observation would require extensive, dedicated nocturnal fieldwork in its specific habitat.
When to spot
Strictly nocturnal. Effectively unobservable in the wild due to extreme rarity and lack of confirmed sightings.
This owl is known from only a single specimen collected in 1951, and its existence in the wild has never been definitively confirmed since, making it one of the most mysterious birds in Africa.
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