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The Kyushu Owl is an obscure regional subspecies of an already poorly-documented bird of prey called the Ural owl. The Ural owl can be found all across northern Eurasia, while the Kyushu owl subspecies is endemic to southern Japan, primarily its namesake island of Kyushu.

Kyushu owls are distinguishable from other subspecies of the Ural owl by their musky brown plumage, featuring sepia-coloured feathers replacing parts of their coat that are typically white on the average Ural owl.

Like other owls of their species, the Kyushu owl is a typically monogamous avian, maintaining the same territory over much of the course of their lives, which typically do not last longer than 10 years. It is a territorial, nocturnal hunter preying primarily on rodents. It is not particularly shy and can be approached quite closely by humans, although it can become aggressive during its mating season. Females lay two to four eggs during the early spring, which hatch in about a month's time. The Kyushu owl has no natural predators to speak of within its small natural range, but is threatened by habitat destruction like many other endemic Japanese animals.

Compared to other subspecies of Ural owl native to Japan, Kyushu owls are larger and have darker plumage. Its subspecies name fuscescens is a reference to this, meaning "darkish".

Kyushu Owl is in the running for the dubious distinction of Most Poorly Documented Friend. The animal is so poorly-documented on the Internet that Japari Library's (English) article on the bird is the single-most comprehensive piece any of us has been able to find in any language. Nevertheless, they are beautiful birds which deserve just as much love and attention as any animal.