Ornithologists working in Oman say an owl discovered in a remote, mountainous region could be a new species.

 

Wildlife sound-recordist Magnus Robb said that he heard the bird's call whilst trying to record the call of another type of owl. After repeated trips to the remote site, he and a colleague - naturalist and photographer Arnoud van den Berg - captured photographs of the bird.

 

They have published their observations in the journal Dutch Birding.

 

The team plans to gather DNA evidence from the owl's feathers in order to confirm their find genetically.

 

Robb said he hoped eventually to name the new species the Omani owl, in honour of the Omani people.