Mantanani scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mantanani scops owl |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Otus |
| Species: |
O. mantananensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Otus mantananensis (Sharpe, 1892)
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The Mantanani scops owl (Otus mantananensis) is a small and unique owl. It belongs to the scops-owl family. You can find this owl on small islands located between Borneo and the Philippines.
Experts from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) say this owl is "near threatened". This means its population is getting smaller. Its home is also being damaged by logging and clearing of forests.
Contents
About the Mantanani Scops Owl
This little owl is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. Its wings are about 15.5 centimeters (6 inches) long. It has a light brown face with a thin, dark edge.
Its upper body is dark brown. It has lighter marks on its shoulders. The owl's belly is pale with dark stripes and bars. It has bright yellow eyes, gray feet, and a gray beak. Its legs are covered in feathers.
What it Eats and How it Lives
This owl likes to hunt at the edge of forests or in open areas. It mainly eats insects.
The Mantanani scops owl probably lays its eggs between March and May. It usually lays them inside a tree hollow.
How it Sounds
The owl's call sounds like a simple waa. It can also make a sound like a goose honking. When owls are arguing over their territory, they make a series of short wa sounds that go lower in pitch. The female owl's voice is deeper and rougher than the male's.
Different Types of Mantanani Scops Owls
There are four different types, or subspecies, of the Mantanani scops owl. They each live in slightly different places:
- O. m. romblonis - Found on Romblon, Tablas Island, Semirara Island, Sibuyan Island, Tres Reyes, and Banton.
- O. m. cuyensis - Lives in Dicabaito, Linapacan, and nearby islands in the southern Calamian Islands.
- O. m. sibutuensis - Found on the Sibutu Islands and Tumindao.
- O. m. mantanensis - Lives on the islands around southern Palawan.
Where the Owl Lives and Why it Needs Help
The Mantanani scops owl lives only on small islands. These islands are between the Malaysian state of Sabah (in northern Borneo) and the Philippine island of Palawan. This includes islands like Calamien, Rasa, and Ursula. It also lives on islands in the Sulu Archipelago and the central Philippines.
You can often find this owl in coconut groves and other wooded areas. It also likes places with Casuarina equisetifolia trees. Even though it's common in these spots, its total home area is quite small. It's estimated to be less than 2,000 square kilometers (770 square miles).
The Mantanani scops owl is "near threatened" because its home is shrinking. People are cutting down trees and disturbing its habitat. Experts believe there are between 6,000 and 15,000 of these owls left. Their numbers are going down. On Mantanani Island, there are at least 100 owls.
Images for kids
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A Mantanani scops owl (O. m. mantanensis) in Palawan.
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
