Javan scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Javan scops owl |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Otus
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| Species: |
angelinae
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The Javan scops owl (Otus angelinae) is a small type of owl. It lives mostly on the tall volcanoes of West Java, an island in Indonesia. Local people call this owl "Celepuk Jawa." Like many owls, it flies very quietly, which helps it hunt at night.
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What Does the Javan Scops Owl Look Like?
This owl is quite small. It usually weighs about 75 to 90 grams. That's like a small apple! Its body is about 16 to 18 centimeters long. It has a short tail, but its wings are quite large, about 13.5 to 15 centimeters long. These big wings help it glide smoothly through the air.
The Javan scops owl has a light, rusty-brown face. It also has bright white eyebrows that extend into special feathery tufts, called ear-tufts. Its beak is hooked and can be dark yellow or light grayish-yellow.
The top part of its body is brown or reddish-brown. It has a rusty-colored collar on the back of its neck. There's also a whitish stripe on its shoulders. The feathers on its wings have stripes. The underside of its body is white or pale yellow. It has clear black streaks mixed with light reddish patterns. These brown feathers with black and white spots help the owl camouflage (blend in) with its surroundings.
You can tell the Javan scops owl apart from another owl, the Mountain scops owl (O. spilocephalus). The Javan scops owl has more golden-yellow or orange-yellow eyes. It also has very noticeable white eyebrows and ear-tufts. Its legs are feathered down to the base of its toes.
How Javan Scops Owls Are Related to Other Owls
The Javan scops owl might be most closely related to the Rajah scops owl (O. brookii). Some experts used to think it was just a type of O. brookii or O. spilocephalus. However, scientists now consider it a separate species. This is because it looks different and makes different sounds.
Where Do Javan Scops Owls Live?
These owls live only in the high mountain forests of West Java. They have been found in mountains like Mount Salak, Mount Pangrango, Mount Gede, and Mount Tangkuban Perahu. People have also seen them in the Papandayan and Ciremay areas.
The Javan scops owl likes to live in mountain forests. These forests have a lot of plants growing on the ground. They usually live at heights between 1,500 and 2,000 meters above sea level. However, they have been seen as low as 900 meters and as high as 2,500 meters. They prefer to stay in the lower and middle parts of the forest canopy, where there are many different kinds of trees.
Javan Scops Owl Behavior and Life
What Do Javan Scops Owls Eat?
The main food for Javan scops owls is insects. They love to eat beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and mantises. Sometimes, they might also eat small lizards and snakes.
When they have young ones, adult owls bring food like beetles, mantises, stick insects, grasshoppers, and crickets to their fledged offspring. To find their food, these owls use their excellent eyesight and sharp hearing. They can spot their prey on tree trunks, in leaves, or on the ground.
What Sounds Do Javan Scops Owls Make?
Most scops owls are known for being quite noisy. But the Javan scops owl is usually much quieter. When it's alarmed, it makes a repeated "poo-poo" sound. There's a short pause (about half a second) between the two notes, and the second note is lower. This alarm call is repeated many times and often sounds a bit shaky.
When they want to stay in touch with each other, they make a hissing "tch-tschschsch" sound. Male owls can also make a soft, low "wook-wook" sound, which is a comfort call.
Javan Scops Owl Reproduction and Family Life
Scientists have seen three owl families with two young owls that had just learned to fly. One family was seen in early February, and the other two in early July. Based on these sightings, it's thought that the mother owls lay their eggs in the second weeks of December and May. It's likely that they lay two eggs at a time.
Protecting the Javan Scops Owl
How Many Javan Scops Owls Are There?
The Javan scops owl is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. This means it's at risk of becoming endangered. It only lives in the forests of Java and Bali. Many experts think it's rare. However, it seems a bit more common in the mountain forests above 1,400 meters on Mount Salak.
Because these owls are secretive and quiet, it's hard to count exactly how many there are. Experts believe there are only about 1,500 to 1,700 Javan scops owls left in the world. Their numbers are going down because their forest homes are being broken up into smaller pieces.
What Is Being Done to Help?
The Javan scops owl has been found in two protected areas: Mount Halimun Salak National Park and Mount Gede Pangrango National Park. These parks protect about 500 square kilometers of forest, with mountains up to 3,000 meters high. There are also nature reserves on Mount Tangkuban Prahu and Ijen where these owls have been seen before.
To help these owls in the future, scientists want to do more research at night in Java's highlands. This includes using special nets to catch and study the owls. This will help them find out exactly where the owls live and how many there are. They also want to create more protected mountain areas for these special birds.
