Andaman Scops-Owl
Otus balli
A small, dark owl with bright yellow eyes and a yellow bill. Note the lack of streaking on the underparts and the small, pale flecks on the upperparts. The color of the plumage may range from bright reddish-brown to dark brown. Found in forests, where it is active only at night. The calls include an ascending, slightly accelerating series of “wup-up-up-up-...” notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Otus balli
- Authority
- (Hume, 1873)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
The species prefers living in trees in semi-open areas. This includes gardens, cultivated areas, and next to human settlements. The species is also notorious for entering bungalows and homes.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
Conservation status of this owl was listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. A rise of habitat destruction on the Islands has caused some worries about the future of the owl, but as of the last assessment date, the population numbers are healthy. Though there is no official population size recorded, the owl has tolerated habitat destruction well.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher
Poecilotriccus ruficeps
Tiny, plump flycatcher found in the understory of the subtropical zone in the Andes, especially around bamboo. Distinctive plumage with yellow belly, white throat, rufous crown, black border around cheek, and bold yellow wingbars. Some populations show rufous wash on cheeks and a reduced black border. Sexes similar. Usually seen in singles or pairs, inconspicuously flitting around the understory of forest and edge. Listen for stuttering calls.
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant
Hemitriccus granadensis
Small flycatcher found in the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Overall drab olive above and pale grayish below, with distinctive black upper throat and buffy or whitish lores. Singles or pairs forage at low levels in scrubby forest edge, sometimes following mixed-species flocks. Occurs from around 1,500-3,000m.
Buff-shouldered Widowbird
Euplectes psammacromius
Breeding males are mostly black with a long tail. There is a large yellow-and-buff patch on the shoulder. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown, though males retain their colorful shoulder. Found locally in montane marsh, heath, and grassland. Vocalizations include low rasps and twittering and sizzling calls. Male separated from Marsh Widowbird by its more extensive buff shoulder patch. Female can be confused with several other species, but is usually identified by association with buff-shouldered males.
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