Rajah Scops-Owl
Otus brookii
Small, little-known owl of montane rainforest. Prominent white brows and horns combined with the fiery orange eyes give it a somewhat fearsome appearance. Perches low in the forest, but like most small owls, easier to locate aurally. Listen for its short croaking bark.
Identification
Adults have a fierce-looking face. The body overall is dark brown. When perched, the blackish crown and white ear-tufts are visible. Its underparts are brownish with thick black streaking. It has a distinct orange iris. The subspecies Otus brookii solokensis is different in plumage from O. b. brookii in having darker underparts, thicker streaking a less distinct nuchal collar. Juveniles of O. b. brookii remain undescribed. O. b.solokensis has rufous upperparts and vermiculations on the underparts.
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies known from two different islands: O. b. brookii (the type subspecies) found on Borneo and O. b. solokensis found on Sumatra. Taking into account speciation patterns within Otus and general phylogeographic patterns of montane birds on Borneo and Sumatra, both subspecies likely represent two distinct species; taxonomic studies will be required to confirm or deny this claim.
- Scientific name
- Otus brookii
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1892)
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
O. b. solokensis has a comparatively large range, being distributed throughout the length of the Barisan Mountains. In contrast, O. b. brookii was formerly only known to have a comparatively small range in the mountains straddling the border of Kalimantan and Sarawak, with a small extension into Sabah. Due to its secretive nature, it had not been sighted since its description by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1892. In May 2016, an individual was observed and photographed on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, well away from the range it was formerly assumed to have, marking a new range extension for the subspecies. This was the first sighting of it in over 125 years, and the first-ever photograph of it in the wild. Sightings were again reported in 2021. It is uncommon in montane forests above an altitude of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). It can be found perched in the lower canopy.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Elegantly long-winged brown lapwing. Breeding adult has clean black cap, bright yellow facial wattles, and a white belly. Non-breeding adults and juveniles are more mottled overall and lack a solid black cap. Note contrasting wing and tail pattern when in flight. Prefers dry open areas, often well away from water. Gives a loud rasping tern-like call and a loud “cheeeee’it” in alarm; generally not as noisy as other lapwings.
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Trumpeter Hornbill
Bycanistes bucinator
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