Luzon Scops-Owl
Otus longicornis
A fairly small owl of lower-elevation montane forest on Luzon. Dark brown on the head, chest, and upperparts, with barred flight feathers. Eyebrows, beard, and belly whitish, with some patterning. Overlaps geographically with Philippine Scops-Owl, but Luzon is smaller, usually found at higher elevation, and has yellow rather than orange-brown eyes. Voice includes a single slightly rising then falling whistled note, repeated at intervals.
Identification
The Luzon scops owl is relatively small even among species of scops owls endemic to the Philippines. It has a body length of 18 to 19 cm with a wing length of 13.6 to 15.3 cm. Their large eyes have bright yellow irises, and their beaks are small and slender. Their tarsi are feathered, but only until about halfway through its length and they are equipped with long, sharp claws, typical of birds of prey. Characteristic of scops owls, this species has long ear tufts and an overall dark brown and rufous plumage. Horizontal dark bars irregularly streak across most of its feathers. Areas along its breast, collar and facial disc are speckled white, giving its face the appearance of having white eyebrows. In contrast, the dark brown or rufous feathers on its throat, head and ear tufts are tipped black.<p>There is little information on this species' body mass, but a select few specimens weighed between 82 to 93 grams.
Taxonomy
The Luzon scops owl is monotypic. Individuals of this species were previously thought to be part of Otus spilocephalus or O. scops, but proper classification by Joe T. Marshall in 1978 based on morphological features and vocalizations eventually earned it the species name Otus longicornis. It is closest genetically to the Mindanao scops owl (O. mirus) and the Mindoro scops owl (O. mindorensis) within the Otus genus, supported by their similar use of high altitude habitats. Besides their habitat preference, a genetic study also supports the evolutionary separation of the highland subgroup of Philippine-endemic scops owl species from those that prefer lowland habitats like the Philippine scops owl and its subspecies (O. megalotis megalotis, O. everetti, O. nigrorum) as well as the Giant scops owl (O. gurneyi).
- Scientific name
- Otus longicornis
- Authority
- (Ogilvie-Grant, 1894)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
The Luzon scops owl is known to be found in rainforest, montane forest, and tropical pine forest habitats at altitudes generally ranging anywhere from 350 to 1,800 m, but it may also be found at heights upwards of 2,200m.<p>Although its habitat range across Luzon appears to be relatively large, it is noted to be uncommon and has a patchy distribution that corresponds to its preferred, highland habitats. It has been recorded primarily in northern Luzon provinces such as Ilocos Norte, Benguet, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, or near Manila in Bulacan and Quezon. However, they may be found as far south as provinces like Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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