Mayotte Scops-Owl
Otus mayottensis
Small, compact dark owl with small ear tufts. Most birds have dark brown upperparts and medium-brown underparts, but there is a rare rufous morph with rich rufous underparts and head. Fairly common in remnant rainforest, secondary forest, gardens, and plantations on the island of Mayotte, in the Comoros. The remarkable vocalization is a series of several low-pitched hollow hoots. Sometimes active and vocal during the day, especially the early morning and late afternoon. Easily identified, as the only other owl on Mayotte is the much larger Barn Owl.
Identification
The Mayotte scops owl is very similar to the rainforest scops owl (Otus rutilus) with which it was once considered conspecific. The upperparts are plain brown marked with faint light spots while the underparts are paler brown than the upperparts. The facial disk is also brownish with a contrasting darker rim restricted to just the sides and not seen above the eyes. The crown is brown with darker streaks and the flanks are more reddish-brown with short dark streaks. The eyes are yellow. The body length is 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in).<p>The call of the Mayotte scops owl is a series of 3–11 deep, single hoots.
Taxonomy
The Mayotte scops owl has been considered to be conspecific with the Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis), the Anjouan scops owl (Otus capnodes), the rainforest scops owl and the Torotoroka scops owl (Otus madagascariensis under O. rutilus), but this species has now been split and the Mayotte scops owl is now regarded as its own species, mainly based on its very different call. The scops owls of Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles form a clade within the genus Otus with the Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia) and are not closely related to the continental African scops owls.
- Scientific name
- Otus mayottensis
- Authority
- Benson, 1960
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
It is endemic to Maore island in Mayotte. where it is common and widespread. The habitat of the Mayotte scops owl is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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