PHARAOH EAGLE OWL BUBO ASCALAPHUS (SAVIGNY, 1809) (STRIGIFORMES, STRIGIDAE), THE “SHROUDED IN MYSTERY” OWL OF IRAQ AND IRAN

The easternmost extent of the Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus (Savigny, 1809)distribution has remained enigmatic due to id entification problems and lack of owl research.In Iraq, B. ascalaphus has been reported from only few localities in western Iraqi deserts;while its occurrence in Iran has not been reported before this study. In 2017 2020, severalnew records of B. ascala phus in western through southeastern Iraq were made and a newdistribution range in western Iran was confirmed. Furthermore, field identification,interspecific relationships and conservation status of B. ascalaphus in Iraq and Iran werecomprehensively di scussed.