Serendib Scops-Owl
Otus thilohoffmanni
Very small rufescent owl, with yellow-orange eyes, and sparse, light speckles on the underparts. Although does not possess true ear tufts it can show “false” ones when alert. Occurs within extensive humid rainforests in the lowlands of Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Roosts singly or in pairs in the understory, but also found in upper levels of trees at night. Combination of small size, all rufous color, lack of prominent facial border, and only limited markings below separates it from all other owls on Sri Lanka. Song is a short “woOLoo”, rising in the middle.
Identification
The Serendib scops owl (Otus thilohoffmanni) is the most recently discovered bird of Sri Lanka. It was originally located by its unfamiliar poo-ooo call in the Kitulgala rainforest by prominent Sri Lankan ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda. Six years later, it was finally seen by him on 23 January 2001 in Sinharaja, and formally described as a species new to science in 2004. Apart from Sinharaja and Kitulgala, it has also been found at Runakanda Reserve in Morapitiya and Eratna Gilimale. It is known as පඬුවන් බස්සා in Sinhala. It is the first new bird to be discovered in Sri Lanka since 1868, when the Sri Lanka whistling thrush—then Ceylon whistling thrush—(Myophonus blighi) was discovered. It is also the 24th (according to some authorities the 27th) endemic bird species for Sri Lanka. The habitat of the Serendib scops owl is in the southern rainforests of Sri Lanka. There is an altitudinal range from 30 to 50 metres. This owl has no competition from other nocturnal birds, as the territories are completely different. This species has a very small population: at the end of January 2006 only 80 of them were known to exist. The places that it is expected to be found are in five protected areas, like the Forest Reserve or the Proposed Reserve of Sri Lanka. They seem to be declining because of the loss of habitat and the degradation. The first two hours of darkness are when the owl hunts for its food. This rare species inhabits the rainforests in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. Like most owls, it is strictly nocturnal and hunts insects (e.g. beetles and moths) close to the ground. It begins calling at dusk, then its frequency rises again some two hours before dawn. Unlike the other two species of scops owl in Sri Lanka, Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena) and oriental scops owl (Otus sunia), it does not have ear-tufts and its facial disc is only weakly defined. The general colour of this 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long, short-tailed owl is reddish-brown with paler underparts, spotted all over with fine black markings. The irides are tawny yellow (more orangish in male) and the feet are a pale fleshy colour. Tarsi are feathered for less than half their length. The claws and bill are a pale ivory colour.
Taxonomy
Genus: Otus; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.
- Scientific name
- Otus thilohoffmanni
- Authority
- Warakagoda & Rasmussen, 2004
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Otus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-capped Antwren
Herpsilochmus atricapillus
Small, long-tailed antwren of the middle to upper levels of woodlands and dry forests. Males are gray with a contrasting black cap and eyebrow. The tail is black and white-tipped and the wings are black with white bars. In females note the cinnamon forehead, gray back and buff belly. The song is loud and usually given as a duet.
Seychelles Scops-Owl
Otus insularis
Small compact owl with very small ear tufts that are often invisible. Buff on the underparts and rufous-brown on the back. Found in remnant rainforest and secondary forest on the island of Mahe, in the Seychelles. The odd vocalization is a low, raspy “grrrrr” that is given at a rate of about one note every two seconds, sometimes for several minutes at a stretch. The sound could easily be dismissed as a frog. Visually the species is easily identified, as the only other owl on Mahe is the much larger Barn Owl.
Blue-black Grosbeak
Cyanoloxia cyanoides
Chunky, stout-billed bird of humid evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands. Usually found in pairs, often skulking at low to middle levels in lush vegetation. In typical views, looks simply dark. Note the large size relative to buntings, very stout bill, and broad tail, which can be twitched side to side. Male is deep blue-black overall. Female is rich dark brown overall. Sharp squeaky call often doubled and rather distinctive.
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