Rajah scops owl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rajah scops owl |
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| An adult O. b. solokensis from Mt. Kerinci, Sumatra. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Otus
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| Species: |
brookii
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| Subspecies | |
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O. b. brooki (Sharpe, 1892) |
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The Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii) is a type of owl that lives on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. This special bird is named after James Brooke, who was a ruler (called a Rajah) of a place called Sarawak. Scientists are still studying this owl. They think it might actually be two different species instead of just one! If that happens, the name Otus brookii would only be used for the owls found on Borneo.
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About the Rajah Scops Owl
The Rajah scops owl is a small, mysterious owl. It lives in the high mountains of Borneo and Sumatra. Because it is so good at hiding, people rarely see it. This makes it a very interesting bird for scientists and nature lovers.
Different Types of Rajah Scops Owls
There are two main groups, or subspecies, of the Rajah scops owl. Each group lives on a different island:
Scientists are looking closely at these two groups. They believe that these owls might be different enough to be called two separate species. More studies are needed to confirm this idea.
Where Do Rajah Scops Owls Live?
The O. b. solokensis owl lives across a large area in the Barisan Mountains on Sumatra. The O. b. brookii owl, however, was thought to live in a much smaller area. This area was mostly in the mountains along the border of Kalimantan and Sarawak on Borneo. It also extended a little into Sabah.
For a long time, no one had seen the O. b. brookii owl since it was first described in 1892. But in May 2016, something amazing happened! An owl was seen and photographed on Mount Kinabalu. This was far from where people thought it lived. This sighting showed that the owl's home range is much bigger than expected. It was the first time anyone had seen this owl in over 125 years. It was also the very first photo ever taken of it in the wild! More sightings were reported again in 2021.
What Does the Rajah Scops Owl Look Like?
Adult Rajah scops owls have a very intense look on their faces. Their bodies are mostly dark brown. When they are sitting on a branch, you can see their dark crowns and white ear-tufts. The feathers on their undersides are brownish with thick black stripes. They have bright orange eyes that really stand out.
The Otus brookii solokensis subspecies looks a bit different from O. b. brookii. It has darker feathers on its underside and thicker stripes. It also has a less clear collar-like marking on the back of its neck. Young O. b. brookii owls have not been described yet. Young O. b. solokensis owls have reddish-brown feathers on their upper parts. They also have wavy patterns on their undersides.
How Do They Communicate?
The O. b. solokensis owl makes a loud, sudden "owh" or "owh-owh" sound. This call sounds like a bark and lasts about half a second. They repeat this call at different times.
Where Do They Make Their Home?
These owls are not very common. They live in montane forests, which are forests found high up in the mountains. They prefer areas above 1,100 meters (about 3,600 feet) in height. You can often find them sitting quietly in the lower parts of the tree canopy.
