Karthala scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Karthala scops owl |
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The Karthala scops owl (Otus pauliani) is a tiny owl. It is also called the Grand Comore scops owl. This special owl lives only on the island of Grande Comore. This island is part of the Comoro Islands.
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What Kind of Owl Is It?
The Karthala scops owl was once thought to be a type of Madagascar scops owl. But scientists now see it as its own unique species. This is also true for other scops owls from the Comoro Islands.
What Does It Look Like?
The Karthala scops owl does not have ear-tufts. These are the feather tufts that look like ears on some owls. This owl comes in two main colors. One is a light color, and the other is dark.
The light-colored owls are dark grey-brown on their backs. They have thin stripes and light spots on their shoulders. Their undersides are a reddish-buff color. Their flight feathers and tail have many fine stripes.
The dark-colored owls are a deep chocolate brown all over. However, scientists have not yet found a dark-colored owl to study closely.
This owl is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long. Its wings can spread out to about 45 cm (18 in).
Voice
The Karthala scops owl makes a special sound. Its call is a clear, whistled "toot." It repeats this sound often. There is about one second between each "toot."
Where Does It Live?
This owl lives only on the island of Grande Comore. It can only be found on Mount Karthala. This mountain is an active volcano.
The owl makes its home in the mountain forest. It also lives in areas where new trees are growing. Sometimes, it lives in the tree-heath areas above the main forest.
How Does It Behave?
The Karthala scops owl is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active mostly at night. It is also very territorial. This means it protects its living space.
If you copy its call, the owl might come closer. This is one of the few ways people know about its behavior. Its talons, or claws, are not very strong. Because of this, it probably eats insects. It also likely eats other small creatures without backbones.
Scientists believe these owls build their nests inside holes in trees.
How Many Are Left?
There are about 2,000 Karthala scops owls left. This owl is listed as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of dying out.
It is endangered because it lives in a very small area. This area is losing its forests quickly. This loss of trees is a big threat to the owls.
