Wallace's Scops-Owl
Otus silvicola
A large scops-owl restricted to Flores and Sumbawa. Grayish-brown overall. Face gray with a black facial border. Shows a dark bill, ear tufts, a dark crown, bold black streaks on paler grayish underparts, and dark brown upperparts with white wing markings. Juvenile paler, with reduced markings and rufous appearance. Inhabits canopy of forested lowlands and foothills. Larger and grayer than Flores Scops-Owl, with dark bill and forehead and black-streaked underparts. Larger than Moluccan Scops-Owl, with a different call: a single gruff “koh,” repeated often.
Identification
The adult Wallace scops owl has a body length of 23 to 27 cm (9 to 101/2 inches), a wingspan between 202 and 251 cm (791/2 and 99 inches), and can weigh around 210 g (71/2 ounces).<p>This small bird has a characteristic owl-shaped face with long ear tufts and bright yellow eyes. It has brown plumage, a light-coloured face, grayish bill and cere, black ‘herringbone’ on brown to reddish vermiculations, pale breast and flanks lined with defined dark shaft streaks, and dark wavy cross-bars. Its breast is slightly darker than the sides of the bird's belly which center is white. The upper parts of the plumage are a paler gray-brown colour.<p>Its flight feathers are a buff colour crossed by dark brown bars while its tail is brown with buff-colored bars. The owls’ tarsi and some of its toes phalanges are feathered. Compared with the adult, the juvenile bird is generally paler and its plumage is more fluffy.
Taxonomy
In the middle of the 1800s, the owls were separated into two distinct taxonomic groups: the Strigidae and the Tytonidae. The Wallace's Scops owl is part of the Strigidae family, which is also called the "true owl" or "typical owl" family. These birds are known for their iconic owl looks with their large eyes, facial discs, nocturnal lifestyle, and soundless flight.<p>There is a sympatric relationship between the Walace's scops owl (Otus silvicola) and the Flores scops owl (Otus alfredi), which is also present in the Lesser Sundas but is much smaller than the Wallace's scops owl.
- Scientific name
- Otus silvicola
- Authority
- (Wallace, 1864)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
Only found on the Flores and Sumbawa islands of Indonesia, this bird has a large range of habitats. It has been found in forested areas, agricultural lands (plantations and secondary growth), houses’ backyards, and bamboo thickets. It has been reported to perch itself at the very top of tall trees or in concealed positions, making it difficult to observe it.<p>Wallace's scops owls have been reported to be common at ranges of 350–1,600 meters (0.2 to 1 mile).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Wallace's Scops Owl is known to be nocturnal. It is also presumed to be sedentary on the Flores and Sumbawa islands of the Lesser Sundas in Indonesia.<p>Three main calls have been reported for this bird;<p>This owl species is thought to be mainly insectivorous, but further studies are necessary to determine its diet with more precision.<p>Little to no information is known about this species' reproductive behaviour. It has been reported that the male presents enlarged testis in December.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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