Javan Scops-Owl
Otus angelinae
Typical scops-owl, endemic to Java’s montane and foothill forests. Favors the upper and middle levels of the forest, frequently roosting and foraging in the lower canopy. Warm brown with black streaks on the chest and prominent white eyebrows. Also note bright orange eyes. Collared Scops-Owl can be similar, but is larger overall, with darker eyes, more solid facial border, and less contrasting eyebrows. Quiet for a scops-owl, vocalizing fairly infrequently--listen for its squealing “eEEE-eeee”, which often has a trembling quality. Also gives sharper, shorter squeal calls, and a gruff “wurk.”
Identification
The Javan scops owl (Otus angelinae) is a small species of owl living mainly on western Java's high volcanos; local people refer to the owl as Celepuk Jawa. Like most owls, this nocturnal bird also has a strong ability of silent flight.
Taxonomy
Javan scops owl is possibly closest to the O. brookii. Sometimes treated as a subspecies of O. brookii or O. spilocephalus, it is currently defined as a separate species because of differences in morphology and vocal habit.
- Scientific name
- Otus angelinae
- Authority
- (Finsch, 1912)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
These birds are endemic to West Java's highland forest. Their traces were discovered in the mountains of Mount Salak, Mount Pangrango, Mount Gede, and Mount Tangkuban Perahu; their appearances were also historically reported in the Papandayan and Ciremay areas.<p>The Javan scops owl prefers montane forest with a well-developed understory at elevations ranging from 1500 to 2000m. Their documented living elevation ranges from 900 to 2500 metres. They prefer to dwell in the lower and middle canopy layers with a broader variety of tree species.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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