Rainforest scops owl


The rainforest scops owl, also known as the Malagasy scops owl or Madagascar scops owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in a large part of eastern Madagascar, but the exact distribution limits between it and the Torotoroka scops owl, with which it was long considered conspecific, require further study.

Description

The rainforest scops owl is a relatively small owl with short, rounded wings and short erectile ear tufts on top of the head. There are three morphs recorded from this species a grey plumaged morph, a brown plumaged morph and a rufous plumaged morph. Features which stand out from the main plumage color are the pale eyebrows, light spots on the scapulars and the barring on the wings and outer tail feathers. Sometimes the crown and the underparts are streaked. The bill has a black tip and may be dull green through to yellowish grey and the eyes are yellow. They measure in length and have a wingspan of.

Voice

The typical song of the rainforest scops owl is a series of between five and none short, reverberating, clear hoots which can be rendered as "pu-pu-pu-pu-pu", these are repeated at intervals of several seconds.

Distribution and habitat

The rainforest scops owl is endemic to Madagascar where it is found in the east of the island. As its common name suggests it prefers humid tropical forest and bush.

Habits

The rainforest scops owl feeds on invertebrates, such as grasshoppers, beetles, moths and spiders; as well as taking small vertebrates. It hunts mostly at night from a perch but will also catch moths on the wing. It roosts during the day, hidden in dense foliage, on a branch or next to the tree trunk. Little is known about the breeding biology of this species, the nest is in a tree hollow and 3-4 white eggs are laid, probably in November - December.

Taxonomy

The rainforest scops owl, the Mayotte scops owl Otus mayottensis, the Pemba scops owl Otus pembaensis and the torotoroka scops owl Otus madagascarensis have all previously been lumped as one species. The taxonomy is in state of flux but recent genetic studies have placed the Pemba scops owl closer to the clade containing the African scops owl Otus sengalensis, while the Mayotte scops owl is clearly separate from the remaining two. The status of the rainforest and torotoroka scops owls as separate species is debatable as there may be very little genetic distance between the two taxa.