Comoro Scops-Owl
Otus pauliani
Small compact owl with very small ear tufts that are often invisible. Rufous-brown on the underparts and dark brown on the back. Found in montane forest and along forest edge on the island of Grand Comoro. Fairly shy and wary. The vocalization is a quiet, repeated “pru” that is given at a rate of about two notes per second, sometimes for many minutes at a stretch. Easily identified, as the only other owl on Grand Comoro is the much larger Barn Owl.
Identification
The Karthala scops owl lacks ear-tufts and comes in two colour forms, a light morph and a dark morph. The light morph is dark greyish-brown on the upperparts with fine barring and pale spots along the scapulars. The underparts are reddish-buff with a dense pattern of fine barring on the flight feathers and tail. The dark morph is overall dark chocolate brown but no specimen of a dark morph individual has been taken. It measures approximately 20 cm (7.9 in) in length and the wingspan is 45 cm (18 in).<p>Its call is a whistled "toot", which is given repeatedly with one second intervals.
Taxonomy
The Karthala scops owl was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Madagascar scops owl (Otus rutilus), but with the other Comoro Islands scops owls, it is now regarded as a separate species.
- Scientific name
- Otus pauliani
- Authority
- Benson, 1960
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
Endemic to the island of Grande Comore, the Karthala scops owl is found only on Mount Karthala, an active volcano. Here it inhabits the montane forest, some secondary growth and the tree-heath above the forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Yellow-crowned Woodpecker
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Medium-sized woodpecker with a densely-spotted black-and-white back and blotchy brown-and-white underparts. Female has an all-golden crown; male has a red forecrown. Where it overlaps with Brown-fronted Woodpecker, note blotchier brown striping on the underparts, pale vent, and duller crown. Gives sharp notes and a high descending rattle. Favors dry arid areas with relatively open foliage.
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Chunky, medium-sized black barbet. There is red on the face, and the bottom part of the wing has white edging. Found locally in woodland, cultivated areas, and gallery forest. Usually in pairs or small groups. The call is an unmusical duet of low, rasping calls. Similar to Black-billed Barbet, but not known to overlap in range, and easily separated by lack of red on the throat or white edges to the top part of the wing.
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