**1. Introduction**

### **1.1 Iraq**

Iraq is situated between latitudes 29° to 38° N and longitudes 39° to 49°, a small area lies west of 39°, and spans over 437,072 km<sup>2</sup> . It borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest, and a narrow coastline with Kuwait to the south. Iraq is sharing a vast transboundary monotonic habitat, including desert, arid steppes, and plateau (Al-Badiyah), with Syria in the west and northwest.

In Iraq, the first attempt to study the owl fauna of the country was conducted by British ornithologists who visited Iraq as members of the British military campaign in the 1920s. They provided detailed information on taxonomic groups, morphological

remarks on species/subspecies occurrence, and migration patterns. However, the status of many owl species in Iraq was not fully discovered due to a lack of subsequent *in situ* ornithological surveys with a significant lack of observations between the 1980s–1990s due to conflicts in the region. In the 1920s, avifaunal observations were compiled in 1922 by Ticehurst et al. [1] who reported seven owl species from Mesopotamia (territory of Iraq and Southwestern Iran) with additional observations added in 1926 by Ticehurst et al. [2]. In the 1950s, an ornithological survey was conducted by Moore and Boswell [3], who reported a total of five owl species in the country. Later on, scattered owl observations were made by several European ornithologists in Iraq, for example, Sage [4, 5], Marchant [6, 7], and Scott and Carp [8] during the subsequent years (see list of species—Iraq). Nevertheless, in the major avifauna monograph of Iraq, which was made in 1960–1962 by Allouse [9], a total of nine owl species were reported from Iraq.

In regard to the Scops owls in Iraq, Allouse [9] mentioned that *Otus* spp*.,* including records of both Eurasian Scops Owl *Otus scops* and Pallid Scops Owl *O. brucei*, further indicating those observations from Iraq were grouped under *Otus* group taxa but with doubts. An attempt to study the avifauna of the steppes and arid regions of Central Iraq was made 38 years later by Al-Dabbagh [10], who reported the occurrence of three owl species, the Western Barn Owl *Tyto alba*, Eurasian Scops Owl, and Eurasian Eagle Owl *Bubo bubo*.

In recent ornithological studies, that is, Porter et al. [11] listed nine owl species from Iraq excluding the Pharaoh Eagle Owl *Bubo ascalaphus*; although, the occurrence of this arid land-dowelling species was confirmed in 1960 in the desert of Western Iraq by Vaurie [12] and the updated geographical distribution and breeding status in Iraq was confirmed later on by Al-Sheikhly [13] and Al-Sheikhly et al. [14]. Furthermore, the last paper [14] comprehensively discussed the geographical distribution and taxonomic status of the Eurasian Eagle Owl *B. bubo* ssp. complex in Iraq in comparison with morphological traits of the recently discovered Pharaoh Eagle Owl in Southwestern Iran, indicating that more research is required to determine the Eurasian Eagle Owl subspecies existing in Iraq and Iran.

In regard to the *Asio* spp., both Northern Long-eared Owl (thereafter only Longeared Owl) *Asio otus* and Short-eared Owl *Asio flammeus* are reported in Iraq by Ticehurst et al. [1]. They questioned the validity of the occurrence of the pale eastern race *A. f. leucopsis*; as a specimen obtained from Qalet Saleh, which was a pale bird, while the rest were all as dark as West European races. Seasonal morphological variations in Short-eared Owl may also occur in Iraq. Ticehurst et al. [1] mentioned that there are seven specimens in the British Museum obtained from Fao in Southern Iraq, three were light birds (October and March) and four are dark birds (one October and the rest bear no date). Therefore, further research is needed to reveal the taxonomic status of this genus in Iraq.

Salim et al. [15] listed 11 owl species from Iraq considering the Lilith Owlet *Athene* (*noctua*) *lilith* as a distinct species. Regarding the Little vs. Lilith owls' contention in literature, Ticehurst et al. [1] mentioned that Little owls from Iraq are somewhat varied in the color of the upperparts even within the same locality; they are too dark, not pale sandy enough above for those *A. n. lilith* (from Palestine), and certainly are not like the North African Little Owl *A. n. glaux* (from Egypt). Iraqi Little owls pretty much resembled Hutton's Little Owl *A. n. baetriana* from Kandahar (Afghanistan). Moreover, they gave morphological remarks between *A. n. lilith* vs. *A. n. baetriana*, as the feathering on the toes varies; on the whole, *Lilith* is less feathered than *bactriana* and more so than *Lilith* but some are as fully feathered as the former

*Queens of the Night, the Owls of Iraq and Syria - Species, Current Distribution,… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109571*

usually is, while skins from Kandahar in winter, the toes have little more than bristles on them. Apart from individual variation in color, the season also makes a difference, *bactriana* in spring is noticeably paler than in autumn. On the underside, these Mesopotamian birds have the strikes not so yellowish-red as in *lilith*. The North African Little Owl *A. n. glaux* had been recorded from the Iranian Karun district and both *glaux* and *bactriana* are residents in the Zagros Mountains [1]. Reports also revealed that *glaux* commonly found in Babylon (Central Iraq) while records from Mosul (Northern Iraq) indicated that adult *bactriana* birds look quite like *glaux*. A mummified specimen obtained in winter at Urfa in Southern Turkey was regarded as *glaux,* while the type of *lilith* reported from the upper Euphrates at Der-ez-Zor (between Deir and Aleppo), which is also recorded from Southwestern Persia. Speculations on the taxonomy of these ssp. in Iraq were raised as little owls from Shustar in the south of Samarra in Northern Iraq were of the race *bactriana,* while no specimens were certainly identified as *glaux* obtained from Iraq (see [1]). Despite its enigmatic status in Iraq; however, this taxon is considered as a subspecies of Little Owl in the taxonomic revision by OSME [16].

#### **1.2 Syria**

Syria (the Syrian Arab Republic) is located on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea between latitudes 32° 19<sup>0</sup> and 37° 30' N and longitudes 35° 45<sup>0</sup> and 42° 25<sup>0</sup> E and spans over 185,180 km<sup>2</sup> . The country borders Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and shares a short coastline with Lebanon and borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west. This wide range of transboundary terrestrial habitats awards both Syria and Iraq with a significant diversity of fauna and flora, the owl fauna being not an exception.

In Syria, the owl fauna has not been fully discovered; however, several kinds of research related to systematics, distribution, or species diversity of small mammal prey taken by owls, or to determine their role as biological control agents on rodent pests were conducted during the last three decades (Shehab and Johnson [17]; also see Literature records—Syria).

Among the owl species in Syria, the Western Barn Owl was comprehensively studied as it seems to be the ideal species to investigate the remains of mammalian prey in owl pellets [18, 19]. It is the most widespread common owl species in Syria and its distribution and ecology were intensively discussed in [17, 20].

Due to their secretive behavior and enigmatic status in Syria, other owl species, such as Pallid Scops Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, and Pharaoh Eagle Owl were of great interest to European and local ornithologists. The Pallid Scops Owl is considered among rarities in Syria, with only three records reported [17]. Breeding evidence was reported in 1924 from Aleppo in Northern Syria by Clarke [21], a single sighting was reported from Tall Shekh Hamad at the Khabur by Baumgart et al. [22], and from Sabkhat al-Jabbul in Halab and Euphrates valley by Evans [23]. The status of the Eurasian Scops Owl is enigmatic, unverified records were made form Ras Al-Baseet, Qatana [22]. The only documented record came from a frozen hunted specimen at the local animal market in Damascus in 2005 [17].

The status of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Syria is not been fully explored; however, the species occurrence in the country was reported by Obuch [24], Shehab [25], Shehab and Mamkhair [26], Murdoch et al. [27], Benda et al. [28], Serra et al. [29], Shehab and Johnson [17], and Bowler [30]. The Pharaoh Eagle Owl was confirmed breeding in the wadies of Eastern Syria [29, 31].

Despite its broad range, additional few studies related to the Little Owl *A. noctua* as a specialist to take arthropods' prey were conducted by Obuch and Kristín [32] and Shehab et al. [33].

Shehab and Johnson [17] mentioned that there are seven owl species in Syria, indicating that further survey may determine whether an eighth species, such as Brown Fish Owl *Ketupa zeylonensis,* should be excluded or not. This owl is now considered an extremely rare species in the country [34]. Anyhow, recent photos have been published on local social media, indicating that this species may still be present in extreme Northern Syria (Ahmad Aidek to Omar Al-Sheikhly pers. comm. 2022). This is interesting, especially when there is a resident Brown Fish Owl population in Southern Turkey adjacent to Syrian borders [35].

Nevertheless, Baumgart et al. [22] reported a total of 10 owl species in Syria, including the first confirmed occurrence of the Eurasian Scops Owl in the country. However, they did not provide further details supporting the presence of the Shorteared Owl, Hume's Owl *Strix butleri,* and Long-eared Owl [22]. The occurrence of two owl species, the Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owl *Strix aluco*, in Syria was reported by Obuch [24] and Benda et al. [28]. The breeding of the Long-eared Owl was confirmed in Northwestern Syria by Manners and Diekmann [36]. However, Shehab and Johnson [17] indicated that the Long-eared Owl is very rare in Syria, with only four records reported. They also reviewed the juvenile Long-eared Owl record from Dana village near Bab Al-Hawa, 40 km west of Halap made by Manners and Diekmann [36] and reidentified that juvenile owl as a Eurasian Eagle Owl later on. In addition, Murdoch and Betton [34] had reported 10 owl species in Syria, indicating that Hume's Owl has not been reported yet in the country but could well occur near the Jordanian borders; therefore, further investigation is required.

There are 10 confirmed owl species occurring in Iraq and Syria; yet, their updated status and zoogeographical extent are still not completely known. In this chapter, an annotated checklist of owls in Iraq and Syria, their historical and current distribution, and conservation status along with their challenging conservation issues, are provided. Owl species are listed according to the OSME Region List of Bird Taxa [16]. The species' conservation status is listed according to the *International Union for Conservation of Nature* (IUCN) Red List. The status of each species is based on Salim et al. [15] for Iraq and Murdoch and Betton [34] for Syria. In addition, the literature species status, breeding status, and distribution maps of owl species were updated based on recent records/observations made by the authors combined with other observations made by several field ornithologists (see acknowledgments) throughout Iraq and Syria during 2007–2022. Literature and recent owl records were placed on an updated distribution topographical map for Iraq and Syria, where black dotes represent previous literature records and white dotes the recent records.
