Philippine scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philippine scops owl |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Otus
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| Species: |
megalotis
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The Philippine scops owl (Otus megalotis) is a common owl found only in the Philippines. It belongs to the family of typical owls called Strigidae. You might also hear it called "Otus Whitehead" or "Whitehead scops owl." Two other owls, the Everett's scops owl and Negros scops owl, used to be considered the same species. Now, scientists classify them as separate kinds of owls.
These owls have big, upright ears, which is how they got their name megalotis. This word comes from Ancient Greek and means "large ears." Philippine scops owls are fairly small birds that don't move around much. They naturally live in the lower parts of forests. There are three different types, or subspecies, of this owl. Each looks a bit different and lives on different islands in the Philippine Archipelago. These owls usually have one partner for life and both parents help raise their young. They build their nests inside tree holes. Philippine scops owls are fierce hunters at night. They eat insects and small mammals. The IUCN Red List says this species is of Least Concern, meaning it's not currently endangered. However, they could be at risk if forests are cut down or broken up.
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What Does the Philippine Scops Owl Look Like?
The Philippine scops owl is a small to medium-sized owl. It's considered one of the largest true scops owl species. Adult owls are about 23 to 28 cm (9.1 to 11.0 in) tall. They can weigh from 125 to 310 g (4.4 to 10.9 oz). Female owls are often quite a bit bigger than males.
A special feature of this owl is its large ears that stand up on its head. They also have big eyes that are dark in the middle with a red or orange edge. Generally, these owls have dark brown feathers with darker stripes. Their ear-tufts have a similar pattern. Their forehead is whitish, and they have a dark line around their face.
There are three different types, or subspecies, of the Philippine scops owl. Each one looks a little different.
- The smallest type, Otus megalotis nigrorum, is reddish-brown. It doesn't have a special line on its shoulder feathers (called a scapular line). Its upper feet also don't have feathers.
- The medium-sized type, Otus megalotis everetti, is more grayish-brown. It also lacks a scapular line and feathers on its upper feet.
- Finally, Otus megalotis megalotis, is the largest type. It's grey-brown and does have a scapular line. It also has feathers on its upper feet.
Other small differences between the subspecies include the length of their tail, wings, and beak. These parts are longer in O. m. megalotis and shorter in O. m. nigrorum.
Male and female Philippine scops owls look very similar, though females are usually larger. Young owls, called owlets, look different. They have fluffy, reddish-brown feathers. As they grow older, they become black and grayish-white. Finally, as adults, they turn brownish.
Where Do Philippine Scops Owls Live?
Philippine scops owls live in Rainforests, older secondary woodland forests, and forest edges. They are mostly seen in the lower parts of the forest, called the understory. They rarely go above 1000 meters in height. However, some have been seen higher up on Mount Data in Luzon. Researchers have even caught them in nets set up just 2 meters above the ground. This shows they mostly live in trees close to the ground.
Otus megalotis is found only in the Philippine Archipelago. But the three subspecies live in different places across these islands.
- O. m. megalotis is found mostly on northern islands like Luzon, Marinduque, and Catanduanes.
- O. m. everetti lives on the eastern and southern islands. These include Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Mindanao, and Basilan.
- O. m. nigrorum is found only on Negros Island.
These subspecies do not travel far, so they stay in their limited areas. Even though they are not considered endangered, losing their forest homes is a big threat. Cutting down forests and breaking them into smaller pieces makes it harder for these owls to survive.
How Do Philippine Scops Owls Behave?
Philippine scops owls are birds that don't move around much. They tend to stay in a small area, called a home range. Since different subspecies live on different islands, they don't compete with each other for food or space. This allows them to live in smaller areas where they can find everything they need.
Vocalizations
Philippine scops owls are active at night and make more sounds then. Their song sounds like "oik oik oik ook." These are long, strong notes that are easy to tell apart. The last "ook" note is lower than the first three. Their call sounds very different. It's a series of three to six loud, sudden notes that get higher in pitch. As far as we know, the songs and calls of female, male, and young owls are all the same.
Diet
These owls are meat-eaters, or carnivores. They hunt animals like insects and small mammals. At night, they sit on tree branches in open areas. This gives them a good view of their prey. They are fierce hunters and are good at tearing meat. Their strong, curved claws, hooked beak, and excellent hearing and eyesight make them powerful predators.
They have been seen killing their prey by crushing its head. Then, they break other bones in the body before swallowing the animal whole. Sometimes, young owls try to swallow prey that is too big, which can be dangerous for them. Philippine scops owls have also been seen eating spiders, like the Heteropoda venatoria species.
Reproduction
You might see Otus megalotis alone, but they are also seen in pairs. They are a monogamous species, meaning they usually have one partner for life. We don't know a lot about their reproduction, but it's thought they breed all year long. Females usually lay 1 or 2 eggs each year. They become old enough to have babies around age 2, but we don't know how long they live. People have often seen one young owl with two adults. This supports the idea that they are monogamous birds and that both parents help care for the young.
They build their nests inside holes in trees. They also make nests among the roots of dead trees on the ground.
Gallery
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Philippine scops owl
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Philippine scops owl, Prague Zoo
