Pemba scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pemba scops owl |
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| Otus pembaensis in Tanzania | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Otus |
| Species: |
O. pembaensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Otus pembaensis Pakenham, 1937
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The Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis) is a special type of owl. It belongs to the owl family called Strigidae. This owl lives only on Pemba Island. Pemba Island is a part of Tanzania, located off its coast.
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How Scientists Classify This Owl
Scientists first thought the Pemba scops owl was a kind of Madagascar scops owl. This was because they looked quite similar. However, new studies looked at the owl's genes. These studies showed that the Pemba scops owl is actually more closely related to the African scops owl.
What the Pemba Scops Owl Looks Like
The Pemba scops owl is a medium-sized owl. It has small ear-tufts on its head. These owls come in two main color types, called morphs.
Color Morphs
One type is mostly pale reddish-brown. It has light stripes on its head. Its belly is lighter with faint bars. The other type is a bright, rich reddish color. Its underwings are a bit paler. Both color types have a pale band on their shoulders. This band is whitish on the brown owls and pale reddish on the rufous owls.
Other Features
The owl's beak is black. Its cere, which is the waxy part above the beak, is yellowish-green. Its eyes and legs are yellow. This owl is about 15 centimeters (6 inches) tall. Its wingspan can reach about 45 centimeters (18 inches).
The Owl's Voice
The Pemba scops owl makes a single "hoo" sound. It calls at different times. Sometimes, it makes a quick series of 4 to 6 notes. These notes come about half a second apart. When a male and female owl call together, it's called dueting. The male's calls are shorter and lower in sound.
Where the Pemba Scops Owl Lives
This owl lives only on Pemba Island. Pemba is the northern island of the Zanzibar group. It is off the coast of East Africa. On Pemba, you can find these owls in all kinds of wooded areas. This includes natural forests. They also live in old plantations of cloves and mango trees. However, they are most often found in the native forests.
How the Pemba Scops Owl Behaves
We don't know a lot about the daily life of the Pemba scops owl. It is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. During the day, it rests among leaves or in thick bushes. It starts calling soon after the sun sets. Then, it begins to hunt for food.
What It Eats
The Pemba scops owl mainly eats insects. It might catch insects while flying. It also picks them off leaves. Sometimes, it glides from a branch to catch insects on the ground.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
We know very little about how these owls breed. It is thought that they might breed between August and October. They probably make their nests in natural holes found in trees.
Why This Owl Needs Our Help
The Pemba scops owl is listed as a Vulnerable animal by the IUCN. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. There are a few reasons why this owl needs help.
Threats to Its Survival
First, it lives only on Pemba Island. This means it has a very small home range. Second, the number of these owls is going down. Third, their habitat is shrinking. Local farmers are clearing plantations. They are making new open fields for farming.
Where It Lives Now
The owl is now mostly found in two small native forests. One is Ngezi forest, which is about 14 square kilometers (5.4 square miles). The other is Msitu Mkuu, which is only about 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). Scientists believe there are between 1,500 and 4,500 breeding pairs. However, this number is quickly getting smaller.
 | John T. Biggers |
 | Thomas Blackshear |
 | Mark Bradford |
 | Beverly Buchanan |
