Japanese Scops-Owl
Otus semitorques
Small grayish owl with prominent ear tufts and dark red eyes, found in lowland and hill forests, forest edges, parks, and gardens. Ryukyu Scops-Owl and Oriental Scops-Owl both have yellow to orangish eyes; Japanese has a more complete collar and more contrastingly pale facial disc. Vocalizations include a variety of meowing, croaking, and barking calls, as well as shrill screeches.
Identification
Japanese scops-owls are 16.5–30 cm (6.5–12 in) tall, and their wingspan is 60–66 cm (23.5–26 in). They weigh 130-200 grams (4.5-7 oz). Their plumage is gray and brown, resembling the bark of a tree which helps them camouflage in their environment. Their wings are long, around 153–196 mm (6-7.5 in), and pointed. Furthermore, like most scops-owls, they have prominent ear tufts. This species has a pale grey-brown facial disc, intense red eyes, green feet, with feathered toes, and a green bill. It is often confused with the Collard scops-owl which is smaller and whiter than the Japanese scops-owl. It is also confused with the Northern white-faced owl which is also whiter than the Japanese Scops-Owl but relatively the same size. This species can reach flight speeds of 80 kph (50 mph).
Taxonomy
The Japanese scops-owl was first classified by Temminck and Schlegel in 1845. It is part of the family Strigidae, the true owl family, which contains 90% of all owl species. The other 10% of owls are part of the family Tytonidae, the barn owl family. The Japanese scops-owl is part of the genus Otus which is the largest genus of owls. This genus includes 59 species of scops-owls found throughout Afro-Eurasia. The genus Otus was first introduced by Thomas Pennant in 1769 with the discovery of the Indian scops-owl. The Japanese scops-owl is closely related to the Indian scops-owl (Otus bakkamoena) and was once thought to be the same species. It is also related to the Collared scops-owl (Otus lettia) and the Sunda scops-owl (Otus lempiji). These four species are sometimes considered conspecific and can be combined into a species known as the Collard scops-owl (Otus bakkamoena). The genus name Otus, derived from Latin, means small-eared owl.<p>Three subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Otus semitorques
- Authority
- Temminck & Schlegel, 1845
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
Japanese scops-owls live in forested habitats such as lowland forests, wooded plain and forested hillsides, as well as woodlands and mountains. They can be found in habitats at elevations between sea-level and 900 meters. They can also be found in the parks and gardens of villages. This species is resident, but it can do small-scale migrations. Japanese scops-owls can move locally depending on the seasons, coming at lower elevations in winter. Japanese scops-owls are found in Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. Otus semitorques ussriensis is found in Sakhalin, Ussuriland and Northeastern China. Otus semitorques semitorques is resident to the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, Kuril Islands, Sado Island, Tsushima Island, Goto Islands, Hokkaido and Yakushima. Otus semitorques pryeri inhabits Izu Islands and Ryukyu Islands.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Reunion Bulbul
Hypsipetes borbonicus
A medium-sized dark gray bird with a white eye, a black cap, and a carrot-colored bill. Endemic to the island of Reunion. Found in humid forest as well as secondary forest and forest dominated by exotic trees; now mostly confined to middle and high elevations. Often in small, noisy groups. Somewhat similar to male Reunion Cuckooshrike, but easily separated by the orange bill and pale eye. The song is an unmusical but varied series of rattling, metallic, and scraping notes, often given from a high perch. The calls include a “chek” note and a long mew.
Bare-cheeked Trogon
Apaloderma aequatoriale
A trogon of lowland rainforests, almost always found in the forest interior, away from forest edges. Males and females have distinctive bare yellow facial skin below their eyes and between their eyes and bill. Both sexes have green backs and uppertails, red chests and vents, and finely barred wings. The species often calls motionless in the subcanopy, giving a series of 6-10 sad, descending coo notes, repeating these series 2-3 times per minute. Similar to the larger Narina Trogon, but Bare-cheeked Trogon is told apart by its song, its closed-canopy forest habitat, and the purely green tones on its head, back, and uppertail.
Butterfly Coquette
Lophornis verreauxii
Tiny hummingbird with a white rump band and rusty tail. Adult male is stunning, with a flowing, glittering green beard ending in white spots, an iridescent green face, and a small crest. Female and young male are much plainer than male, but they typically have a white throat with dark patch in the middle, and lack the buffy or rusty tones on the underparts shown by females of several similar species. Distinguished from female Peacock Coquette by lack of streaking on the throat. Inhabits humid lowland and foothill forest and is quite scarce in most of its range. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of Festive Coquette.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.